BJP ticket aspirants don’t want to waste time

With the BJP keeping the suspense over the tickets in Mysuru, ticket hopefuls, in anticipation of getting the green signal for their candidature from the party high command, have started reaching out to voters, describing themselves as ‘ticket akankshi’ (aspirant), ahead of formal announcements by the party.

The JD(S) has already announced its candidates for most of the seats in Mysuru, including the four constituencies comprising Mysuru city and the taluk. The Congress is likely to field sitting MLAs with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah leading from the front contesting his last election (as announced by him) from the Chamundeshwari constituency.

The BJP’s ticket move on Krishnaraja constituency is being closely watched in the political circles here with former Minister S.A. Ramdas making a strong bid for the ticket along with H.V. Rajeev, a loyalist of BJP State president B.S. Yeddyurappa. The party may keep the aspirants waiting since it does not want to take chances. It was perhaps waiting for a consensus as it eyeing to wrest the seat from the Congress.

Sources in the party said Mysuru seats may figure in the second list of candidates which is expected in a couple of days. Describing himself as a ticket aspirant from Varuna, B.Y. Vijayendra, son of State BJP president B.S. Yeddyurappa, has stepped up his campaign as the ticket appears almost certain for him to take on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s son Yathindra.

Former Mayor Sandesh Swamy alias S. Satish, who quit the JD(S) and joined the BJP recently, has started campaigning. “I’m introducing myself to the wards since I am new to the party. It’s true I’m aspiring for the ticket and also confident of getting it. Before the formal announcement, I am going around the constituency to tell people that I am not with the JD(S) any more and will be contesting the elections as the BJP candidate,” he told The Hindu.

Mr. Swamy is also circulating pamphlets projecting himself as the ticket aspirant, highlighting his achievements as the Mayor and the corporator. He has also become more active on social media.

The former MUDA chairman L. Nagendra, a strong contender for the BJP ticket from Chamaraja, has adopted a similar strategy ahead of the formal announcement of the ticket. He too has started his campaign while still a ticket aspirant. Posters of him appealing for voters’ blessings are prominently visible in the constituency where he had unsuccessfully contested on the BJP ticket in the 2013 polls.