BENGALURU: Karnataka BJP’s core committee on Saturday shortlisted names of a few potential candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections in the state and sent it to the party’s central leadership for approval.
Prabhakar Kore, sitting Rajya Sabha member and chairman of Karnataka Lingayat Education (KLE) Society, former MP Ramesh Katti (ex-minister and BJP MLA Umesh Katti’s brother) and hotelier and senior functionary K Prakash Shetty have made it to the final list. Kore and Ramesh Katti are from Belagavi.
Though sources said former MP and media and transport baron Vijay Sankeshwar and BJP state vice-president and ex-MLA Nirmal Kumar Surana were included in the list after removing Kore’s name at the last minute, there was no confirmation on it.
“We are only recommending the names and our party’s central election committee, which may meet on Sunday or Monday, will take a final call. The possibility of retaining one name from our list and selecting someone of their choice also cannot be ruled out,” a minister said after the meeting.
Top BJP sources, however, said the saffron party has decided to field a third candidate only if former PM and JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda pulls out of the race.
Nine names, including eminent banker KV Kamath and Infosys foundation chairperson Sudha Murty, BJP national general secretary incharge of Karnataka Muralidhar Rao and former IAS officer Madan Gopal, were discussed at the committee meeting before finalising the candidates. Held at the party’s state headquarters here, the meeting was attended by chief minister BS Yediyurappa and state BJP president Nalin Kumar Kateel, among others.
Prabhakar Kore, sitting Rajya Sabha member and chairman of Karnataka Lingayat Education (KLE) Society, former MP Ramesh Katti (ex-minister and BJP MLA Umesh Katti’s brother) and hotelier and senior functionary K Prakash Shetty have made it to the final list. Kore and Ramesh Katti are from Belagavi.
Though sources said former MP and media and transport baron Vijay Sankeshwar and BJP state vice-president and ex-MLA Nirmal Kumar Surana were included in the list after removing Kore’s name at the last minute, there was no confirmation on it.
“We are only recommending the names and our party’s central election committee, which may meet on Sunday or Monday, will take a final call. The possibility of retaining one name from our list and selecting someone of their choice also cannot be ruled out,” a minister said after the meeting.
Top BJP sources, however, said the saffron party has decided to field a third candidate only if former PM and JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda pulls out of the race.
Nine names, including eminent banker KV Kamath and Infosys foundation chairperson Sudha Murty, BJP national general secretary incharge of Karnataka Muralidhar Rao and former IAS officer Madan Gopal, were discussed at the committee meeting before finalising the candidates. Held at the party’s state headquarters here, the meeting was attended by chief minister BS Yediyurappa and state BJP president Nalin Kumar Kateel, among others.
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