Target 150: BJP panel meets to finalise candidates for Karnataka elections

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 9

The BJP’s central election committee held a marathon meeting in the Capital today to finalise candidates for the upcoming May 10 Karnataka elections.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP chief JP Nadda, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah and Karnataka Chief Minister Basvaraj Bommai were part of the deliberations that lasted till beyond 10 pm.

The saffron party has set eyes on 150 seats in an Assembly of 224 in the state.

In 2018, the BJP had emerged the single largest party with 104 seats but fell short of the majority of 113, leading to the formation of a Congress and JDS coalition.

The BJP, riding on PM’s “development agenda”, has made Congress’ sympathy for the PFI and SDPI and Rahul Gandhi’s remarks against Modi surname planks in the state where the Congress is targeting the Bommai government over alleged corruption.

The BJP, which is strong in north and central Karnataka, is hoping to expand in the Old Mysuru region, where the JDS holds sway.

The first list of the BJP candidates is expected on Monday. Bommai will feature in the first list. All eyes are on BJP’s decision about former CM and Lingayat strongman BS Yediyurappa’s son BY Vijayendra with the former CM seeking Shikaripura but some thinking ongoing on whether to field him against Congress CM hopeful Siddharamaiah from Varuna.

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