BENGALURU: The BJP’s Karnataka in-charge, Arun Singh, on Friday hit out at the Congress, saying it was taking too long to release a third list of candidates as there is “internal battle” among its leaders. Singh said, “The third list will not come, just wait and watch. There is an internal battle among the leaders in the party”.
Reacting to the BJP’s move of introducing fresh faces as candidates and dropping the older ones, he said, “Not everyone can get election tickets. Naturally, they are hurt at being denied tickets. But BJP members work for an ideology, with the sentiment of ‘nation first’. Every member of the party will unite and work together”.
On Laxman Savadi joining the Congress, Singh said, “Even after he lost the election, the BJP made him Deputy CM and MLC. He is going to join a party where there is so much infighting and groupism and the Congress is already sinking. Lakhs of partymen in the BJP do work, but don’t become MPs or MLAs. Over this, even after being made Deputy CM and MLC, if Savadi crosses over to the Congress, the BJP workers will be hurt”.
On being asked about whom he sees as a stronger opponent, Siddaramaiah or D K Shivakumar, he said, “The Congress is divided into three factions —Siddaramaiah, D K Shivakumar and Mallikarjun Kharge. There will be a pitched battle in the Congress when election seats are announced”.
He added, “The BJP has given tickets to 66 new faces in 212 seats so far for the upcoming Assembly polls. The BJP has given a chance to new faces who work for the party for a very long time and also respects our senior leaders and workers. The party will perform well in the polls”.
On whether the party’s new faces will help counter the anti-incumbency factor against the Bommai government, Singh said, “There is no anti-incumbency, only pro-incumbency. Now Karnataka’s position is strong, whether its ease of doing business, or innovation. The bulk of FDI (foreign direct investment) is coming to Karnataka. People’s sentiments and emotions are with the BJP”. (ANI)