Udupi-Chikkamagaluru: JP Hegde lobbying for BJP ticket; four aspirants in JDS

Udupi, Mar 14: After Congress decided to sacrifice Udupi–Chikkamagaluru constituency to Janata Dal (Secular) as per seat sharing pact, at least four aspirants in the regional party have started lobbying hard for the ticket.

According to Vasudeva Rao, working president, JD(S) district unit, three names were in contention in the party: S L Dharme Gowda, Deputy Chairman of Legislative Council, S L Bhoje Gowda, MLC, and Y S V Datta, former MLA. “The party will decide among these three leaders. There is also a fourth name in contention. But we cannot reveal it now. The party will decide on the candidate in a couple of days,” he said.

Meanwhile, Yogish Shetty, president, Udupi district unit of JD(S), said he too was in the running for the party ticket. “But I will decide whatever is the high command’s decision,” he said.

Meanwhile, K Jayaprakash Hegde, BJP leader, said that he was an aspirant for the BJP ticket from Udupi – Chikkamagalaru parliamentary seat. The BJP was likely to decide on the candidate for the seat on March 15 or 16, he said.

Mr. Hegde said that he was not going to join the JD(S) as was being reported.

“I am in the BJP. I should not think like that (to join the JD-S). No one from the JD(S) has approached me either. I will not join the JD(S) even if I am not given the BJP ticket,” he said.

Senior BJP leader Shobha Karandlaje, is the sitting BJP MP for Udupi-Chikkamagaluru parliamentary seat.