Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (DC)

Bengaluru, Apr 9: Hours after the BJP announced its first list of candidates for the upcoming assembly elections, scheduled to be held on May 12, dissenting voices were heard within the party on the ticket allotment.

N R Ramesh, a ticket aspirant from Chikkapete constituency has missed out on ticket in the first list. Hours after the party released the list, supporters of Ramesh agitated in front of senior BJP leader R Ashok's residence, who had promised a ticket to the latter.

The agitators raised slogans such as 'traitor' against R Ashok. They also warned him that if the party fails to give him the ticket, he would contest as an independent otherwise and win. Businessman Garudachar has bagged the Chikkapete ticket from the BJP.

In Shiggao-Savanur constituency in Haveri too, the BJP is facing discontent where it has decided to give ticket to present MLA Basavaraj Bommayi. Another aspirant and Vidhana Parishad member Somanna Bevinamarad has announced that he would contest as independent candidate. Somanna is a close confidante of senior leader K S Eshwarappa.

The BJP on Sunday April 8 announced the first of candidates for the crucial Karnataka Assembly elections. The first list has names of candidates for 72 of the 224 constituencies.
The list was announced after a meeting of the BJP's central election committee at the party's headquarters in Delhi.

The meeting was chaired by BJP national president Amit Shah. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, union home minister Rajnath Singh, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, Karnataka BJP president B S Yeddyurappa and others were part of the meeting.

The all-important Karnataka Assembly elections, touted as a rehearsal for the 2019 general elections, will be held on May 12, and the results will be declared on May 15.