Mangalore, February 21: It's official. Karnataka BJP on Tuesday announced that former Karkala MLA would be the saffron party's candidate for Udupi- Chikmagalur parliamentary constituency.
The seat was vacated by Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda last month following his election to the Upper House. Bypoll to the constituency will be held on March 18.
BJP national General Secretary and State Election Committee Secretary H N Anant Kumar after formally announcing the name of Party's candidate, expressed confidence that the BJP would win the seat by a thumping majority and retain it.
The development comes soon after the KPCC chief president G Parameshwar formally confirmed that Congress party would filed former minister Jayaprakash Hegde for the bypoll.
Mr Kumar, who is also the state president of BJP Yuva Morcha, had lost Karkala constituency to Gopal Bhandary of Congress in the last Assembly elections.
Known for his firebrand speeches and anti-minority rhetoric, Mr Kumar has been a star orator not only for BJP but also for all the Sangh Parivar outfits in their public meetings.
Although Kundapur MLA Haladi Srinivas Shetty, Uday Shetty and Chikmagalur district BJP president Pranesh had emerged as possible candidates, the leaders decided to go Mr Kumar.
The popularity Mr Kumar had secured in both Chikmagalur and Udupi districts through his firebrand speeches and Datta Peetha campaign helped him win the battle for party ticket.
Meanwhile, the BJP core committee meeting is likely to be held by this weekend to decide on the proposed state-tour by its leaders to demonstrate their unity.
The RSS while brokering peace between Eshwarappa and former C M B S Yeddyurappa last week had advised state leaders to tour unitedly.
“Yeddyurappa is touring the state on the invitation by some BJP MLAs. There is nothing wrong in it,” Eshwarappa said while trying to down play the former chief minister's tour.
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