Even after the elections are notified, all the parties have kept their list of candidates in suspense. However, here is some gossip from the political corridors for you! Enjoy reading!
What is Congress doing?
Congress is experimenting in Bangalore North with ‘primaries’ where internal voting will be done by the party members and the winner will contest the elections.
Primaries will be held between Rajeev Gowda, B L Shankar and others, on March 8. Rajeev Gowda is an ex-IIMB professor, who also headed IIMB’s Centre for Public Policy. B L Shankar is a veteran politician with relatively clean history and no controversies.
From Bangalore South, Aadhaar project head Nandan Nilekani is expected to contest form contest. He has already kicked off his campaign unofficially by launching his Ideas for Bengaluru campaign. Nandan Nilekani is widely believed to play a bigger role in Congress in future.
Rumour goes that C K Jaffer Sharief has expressed his willingness to contest from Bangalore Central. He reportedly wrote a letter to Sonia Gandhi expressing his willingness to support Janata Dal (S) supremo H D Devegowda, former prime minister who is contesting from Hassan. In the last election, JD(S) had promised its support to Jaffer Sharief in case he contested from Bangalore Central, however Sharief had contested from North and lost to BJP’s DB Chandregowda.
Bangalore North and Central are known to have some vote base for Janata Dal (S) – not enough to win, but enough to play a spoiler. However Congress hasn’t zeroed in on anyone yet for the Central, though the younger brigade in Congress is batting for youth candidates.
Who is BJP fielding?
BJP has officially said that the lists will be published on March 8, coincidentally on the same day when Congress will announce its candidate for Bangalore North.
Ananth Kumar was perceived to be contesting again from Bangalore South. However, if the recent rumours are to be trusted, Ananthkumar might shift base to Hubli, which is a BJP stronghold.
Originally there were three names floating around for Bangalore North – former deputy CM R Ashok, former power minister Shobha Karandlaje and Sadananda Gowda. With Ashok retracting from the field, Sadananda Gowda is expected to be the BJP candidate from Bangalore North constituency.
The JD(S) plans
JD(S) is expected to field candidates in all the three constituencies of Bangalore. Nandini Alva is expected to contest from Bangalore Central, while Bagegowda will be fielded from Bangalore South. The name of Jayagopal Gowda is being circulated for Bangalore North.
What are AAP’s plans?
The list from Aam Aadmi Party is said to finalised and sent to Delhi for approval. Ravi Krishna Reddy who has joined Aam Aadmi Party from Lok Satta is expected to contest, from Bangalore Rural. V Balakrishnan, former Infosys executive, is expected to be fielded from Bangalore Central. Babu Mathew’s name is making rounds for the Bangalore North.
What plans does Lok Satta have?
Lok Satta is keeping its cards closed. There were plans of Lok Satta aligning with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The executives of both parties met each other and discussed in Delhi, but the talks did not converge. While some sources term it as ego clash, sources within the parties say the real issue is ideology – Lok Satta is perceived to be a Right-of-the-Centre party by most going by the values it stands for, while AAP wants to be a Centrist party with a leftist stand.
Another party, Nav Bharat, will be fielding its candidates, though the party chief R K Misra is expected to contest from Sitapur in Bihar.
The suspense is expected to end before next Monday, with almost all the parties announcing their candidates.
Related Articles
Register your name in voter list till March 16
Check what your MP has done: P C Mohan, Bangalore Central
Check what your MP has done: Ananth Kumar, Bangalore South
Check what your MP has done: D B Chandregowda, Bangalore North