Ticket denial leaves BJP’s Sadananda Gowda disappointed, keeps his options open

Bengaluru: The decision to deny a ticket to contest from Bangalore North parliamentary constituency has left former Karnataka Chief Minister and BJP lawmaker DV Sadananda Gowda disappointed and questioned the BJP’s stance in Karnataka.

Following the denial of the ticket, Gowda has stated that he has been approached by other parties ahead of the polls. He stated that he has also been contacted by BJP leaders who tried to pacify him, indicating some internal strife within the party.

“It is true that I have been contacted by others. It is also true that our party leaders also contacted and discussed with me. Last night a predominant office bearer of our party came to me and tried to pacify me. Various things are happening,” he told reporters Sunday.

Gowda also expressed his intention to consult his family and well-wishers before making any decision regarding his future course of action, hinting at the possibility of contesting as an independent candidate or with another party.

“I had decided to stay away from electoral politics, but I was pulled back, but no one came to my rescue at the last minute, and have caused some embarrassment to me,” he said.

Although Gowda had earlier announced his decision to retire from electoral politics, he later backtracked citing pressure on him to contest the 2024 general elections.

He claimed that BJP national general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Radha Mohan Das Agarwal had told him that out of 28 constituencies in the state, Bengaluru North was the only one where there was no candidate other than him.

BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje, who met Gowda, dismissed the attempts of the Congress to woo him, expressing confidence that Gowda’s support would ultimately be for Narendra Modi and the BJP.

Karandlaje herself has been moved to the Bengaluru North constituency, which led to protests among party workers.

The decision to replace Gowda with Karandlaje has led to protests among party workers in Bengaluru North, with slogans against her and dissatisfaction over the perceived sidelining of Gowda, a senior leader.