‘Shocking... but I will stand with BJP’: Ananth Kumar’s wife after ticket denial

Bengaluru, Mar 26: Late Union Minister Ananth Kumar’s wife Tejaswini, who was a strong contender for the BJP ticket from Bengaluru South, has expressed shock after the party decided to filed 28-year-old Tejasvi Surya instead of her.

Tejaswini Ananth Kumar, 53, had been recommended for the seat that her husband held till he died last year. Ananth Kumar was a five-time parliamentarian from the seat.

Karnataka BJP chief BS Yeddyurappa, who had recommended her name to his party bosses, told media that she would be the Bangalore South candidate. However, Last night, Tejaswini Ananth Kumar learnt that she had been passed over for Tejasvi Surya.

"It is shocking to (my workers) and even to me. I have been telling myself it is important to show our maturity, that we are a party with a difference," Tejaswini Ananth Kumar said in an interview to a news agency.

“I stand with the party's decision. Let's not start asking questions. If we have to contribute to the country then we have to work for (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi ji," she said.

She referred to defence personnel who worked for the country without bothering about their families.

"(My husband) worked all these years. We always worked with the idea of nation first, party next, self-interest last. Now it is the time to show we always believed in that," Tejaswini Ananth Kumar, an engineer by qualification, said.

Party sources say in the race for Bangalore South, the party preferred Tejasvi Surya because of his sharp oratory. Many in the BJP argue that will be an asset in a constituency that has intricate caste math.

Also, a combined Janata Dal (Secular) and Congress will be a tougher challenge than before. In the high-profile Jayanagar assembly seat in south Bengaluru, which has traditionally voted BJP, the Congress's Sowmya Reddy with the help of JD(S) was able to narrowly win in the state election last year. She defeated the brother of the BJP legislator, Vijay Kumar, who had died while campaigning.

Tejasvi Surya, say BJP leaders, is a young, dynamic face who is known for his strong speeches. He has also a strong association with the BJP's ideological mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).