Trying to convince leaders on support to Sumalatha: Yeddyurappa

‘Aim is to defeat coalition candidate’

The former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa has said that the BJP State unit was trying to convince the central leadership that the party should not field a candidate in Mandya.

“The State unit has recommended we support Sumalatha to strategically defeat the coalition candidate. But the party high command seems to feel that being a national party we need to field candidates in all 28 constituencies. We are trying to convince them. But the decision of the central leadership is final and we will abide by that and fight the polls,” he said.

The BJP State unit chief was addressing presspersons here on Friday.

He said the list of party candidates in the remaining seven constituencies would be released in a day. “Like during any ticket distribution, there are some minor disappointments and dissidence among party cadres in two or three constituencies. I have been speaking with them and these differences will be sorted out in the next few days,” he said.

The former Congress leader from Hyderabad Karnataka A.B. Maalakaraddi joined BJP on Friday. He said he was impressed by the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and joined the party. Mr. Yeddyurappa said the former Minister’s entry would strengthen the party in Hyderabad Karnataka region.

‘No plan about Modi contesting from State’

Denying speculations that Prime Minister Narendra Modi may contest from Bengaluru South Lok Sabha constituency, Mr. Yeddyurappa said there was no such thinking in the party. “We have recommended the names of candidates from all 28 constituencies and the central leadership will take the final call. The second list is expected to be released in a day,” he added.