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 Bengaluru South decision is being seen as a message to the State unit

The surprise decision of the BJP Central leadership with regard to the Bengaluru South seat, choosing a youngster over the late Union Minister Ananth Kumar’s wife Tejaswini, is being seen as a strong message to the party’s State unit that the top leadership is looking for a change.

The BJP’s Central Election Committee on Monday night nominated its State youth wing general secretary, the 28-year-old Tejasvi Surya L.S., as its candidate from the prestigious Bengaluru South constituency. This has come as a shock to the State unit, which had recommended only the name of Ms. Tejaswini for the seat.

According to sources in the BJP, the main factor that worked in favour of Mr. Tejasvi, known as a “firebrand speaker”, was that the party was looking for fresh faces. Also, the party wanted to show that it was against dynastic politics, as “attacking dynastic politics” has been its main campaign theme in these Lok Sabha polls.

Though some of the State unit leaders have questioned the logic of supporting Independent candidate Sumalatha in Mandya, as she too is part of dynastic politics, this development appears to have shaken many senior leaders. They think that ignoring a prominent person such as Ms. Tejaswini is a clear message that the Central leadership is looking beyond old stalwarts who were until now faces of the party.

The State unit, which has lost its political hold because of infighting, is depending on the Central leadership for its political prospects. This has increased particularly with the failure of its repeated efforts to topple the coalition government in the State. Things were made worse when an audio clip containing a purported conversation in which party State chief B.S. Yeddyurappa allegedly offered a bribe to a ruling coalition MLA’s son, was made public.

The manner in which the State leaders themselves announced Ms. Tejaswini’s candidature even before the Central Election Committee took it up for discussion is also learnt to have not gone down well with the top leaders. Meanwhile, State BJP leaders are said to now be apprehensive that similar action may be unleashed in the days to come by the top leaders on other issues related to the party’s organisation.

‘Centre watching developments’

The Central leadership is said to be watching the developments unfolding after choosing Mr. Surya for Bengaluru South Lok Sabha seat. The top leaders are said to be upset that some prominent State leaders skipped the occasion of Mr. Surya filing his nomination papers on Tuesday.