Udupi: Lok Sabha Bypoll - Sunil Kumar BJP's Choice Candidate?

Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Jan 21: Parleys within BJP over party’s bid to finalize a candidate for the coming bypoll from Udupi-Chikmagalur Lok Sabha constituency have become more pronounced now. The seat has become vacant because of the resignation tendered by sitting MP D V Sadananda Gowda, after being chosen as Karnataka Chief Minister. It is learnt that the leaders want to finalize the name of the candidate within a week or so.

It is gathered that the core committee meeting of BJP was held at the home office of the chief minister, ‘Krishna’, late night on Friday. In a separate meeting held thereafter, senior leaders of the party aired their opinions and arguments freely.

Although names like district BJP president, Uday Kumar Shetty, sitting Kundapur MLA, Halady Srinivas Shetty, Chikmagalur district BJP president, Pranesh and former president, Bhoje Gowda, also came up for discussions, many expressed their leaning for former Karkala MLA and BJP state Yuva Morcha president, Sunil Kumar, it is learnt.

Surprisingly, the name of former union minister and state government’s representative in New Delhi, Dhananjay Kumar, also emerged in these discussions as a possible candidate.

Over 20 senior BJP leaders from within the above Lok Sabha constituency were invited for the meeting for extracting their individual opinions on the choice of a winning candidate. Before the above meeting, state president of the party, K S Eshwarappa, too had a meeting with these leaders.

While Eshwarappa and Sangh Parivar leaders have shown a clear stand in favour of Sunil Kumar, Chief Minister and Yeddyurappa are yet to completely make up their minds, it is learnt. Those who stood for Sunil Kumar pointed out that he is young, enthusiastic, sincere activist of Sangh Parivar, and a charismatic leader. They felt that he is the right candidate for this bypoll, as he promises to lead the party to victory.

Another round of meeting is expected to be held before the name of the prospective candidate is cleared. If the present indications are taken as guiding clues, there is every reason to safely conclude that Sunil Kumar will be the choice of BJP, unless the process undergoes sudden and unexpected twist at the last minute.