Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Mar 26: Everyone believed that BJP would be fielding Tejaswini Ananth Kumar, wife of former union minister who recently passed away, from the city (south) constituency, taking into account loyalty and integrity of Ananth who got elected six times from this constituency and functioned as union minister. Naturally one believed that Tejaswini, who expressed her willingness to take the plunge, would be chosen over everyone else because of sympathy wave.
It is learnt that the party leadership had recommended the name of Tejaswini alone from the said constituency this time, and Yeddyurappa had fully backed her candidature. In the recent past, there were rumours that Prime Minister himself might opt to fight from here. Everyone was therefore surprised and shocked when the party announced that Tejasvi Surya would be the official candidate of the party from here. Tejaswini, who perhaps had an inkling of what was to come, tweeted n Monday that she holds country ahead of everything else, followed by the party and her private life in that order.
Some BJP leaders say that the party took a decision to break the tradition of giving party tickets to family members which is the practice followed by the Congress and JD(S). It is also said that he top leaders felt that it was not proper on the part of Tejaswni, even though she is an ideal candidate, to expect to become automatic choice in her husband’s place. This constituency is in the grip of BJP since 1991.
The fact that Tejasvi worked in the organisational set up of the party, was identified with Yuva Brigade, and is an orator who is able to forcibly drive home his points, and has good leadership qualities, have all gone in his favour. He was functioning as spokesperson from the party and has influenced a large number of youth. He was also active with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Patriotism and Hindutva are issues to which he is committed and in him the party has found a leader who can be groomed to be a future national level leader of the party.