The Hindu : New Delhi News : BJP plans to induct new faces

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Tuesday, Dec 18, 2007
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BJP plans to induct new faces

P. Sunderarajan

Party will fight Assembly elections on its own, declares Yeddyurappa

Party reiterates demand for early elections in State
Leaders to approach Election Commission in this regard

NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party has decided to induct new faces as candidates for the coming Assembly elections in Karnataka. As the first step in this direction, State party president D.V. Sadananda Gowda has initiated a constituency-wise exercise to get feedback about the performance of those from the party who were members of the recently dissolved Assembly.

Disclosing this, BJP leader and former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa said the party would fight the coming elections on its own without aligning with any other party and was confident of winning at least 150 out of the 224 Assembly seats.

“After resigning as Chief Minister on November 19, I have toured over 12 districts and 35 Assembly constituencies, including areas that were considered strongholds of the Congress or the Janata Dal (Secular), such as Bangalore Rural, Ramanagara, Hassan and Mysore. Wherever we went, there was overwhelming public response. Muslims and people belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes are particularly very happy with the BJP,” he said.

Asked whether there was any likelihood of the former Home Minister and JD(S) leader M.P. Prakash joining the BJP, he said his party would welcome it if he decided to join. Mr. Prakash was in touch with some party leaders, he said.

Memo submitted

The former Chief Minister also said Mr. Sadananda Gowda had submitted a memorandum to the Election Commission seeking early elections, and senior party leaders at the national level would soon approach the panel to reiterate the demand.

The voters list was expected to be ready by January 10 and the elections could be held some time in February, before the school examinations commence, he said.

Mr. Yeddyurappa called on Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha L.K. Advani to personally congratulate him on the decision of the party to declare him as its candidate for Prime Minister for the next Lok Sabha elections.

He also called on party president Rajnath Singh and party leader in charge of Karnataka affairs Yashwant Sinha and apprised them of the current political situation in the State. He invited them to participate in a party rally being organised at Raichur in north Karnataka in the first week of January.

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