Dissidence hits both Congress and BJP as candidate lists announced in Karnataka

BENGALURU: Dissidence has hit both Congress and BJP in Karnataka as candidates lists have been announced for the May 12 polls.
Congress is facing trouble in about 20 of the 218 constituencies where they announced their candidates, even as candidates for six seats have not been announced. The BJP is facing trouble in about 10 seats, after having announced candidates for 154.

This is the first time in recent memory that the Congress announced an almost-complete list of candidates for elections in Karnataka. “Considering the enormity of the task, dissidence in just 20 constituencies is not bad at all,” an outgoing cabinet minister told ET.

Congress workers vandalised the party office in Mandya, where sitting MLA Ambareesh has been given the ticket. One of his supporters, Ravikumar, claimed that Ambareesh had promised him the ticket this time but had reneged on it.

In other constituencies like Koppal, Kolar, Kollegal, Jagalur, Kittur, Pulikeshinagar and a few more, Congress aspirants expressed anguish over being overlooked.Some, like Prasanna Kumar in Pulikeshinagar and V R Sudarshan in Kolar are said to be in talks with the opposition JD(S) and BJP to shift parties.

“We are reaching out to all the disappointed aspirants and trying to solve the problem,” Congress working president and spokesperson Dinesh Gundu Rao said. “It is a sign that the party is coming back to power. We will find ways to solve the issues with all aspirants to whatever extent possible,” he added.

BJP is also facing dissidence in several seats, with disgruntled aspirants threatening to contest as rebels in seats like Dharwad, Sagar, Chikpet and Gulbarga Dakshin .”We are talking to all those who wanted our party tickets and hope we can assuage their feelings,” party general secretary N Ravikumar said.