Eleventh-hour decision: Why the BJP picked Tejasvi Surya for Bengaluru South

Lok Sabha 2019

While the state BJP leadership rooted for Tejaswini, RSS leaders in the state like BL Santhosh had backed Tejasvi Surya's candidature from the constituency.

Theja Ram

A young man is on the frame on the left interacting via video conference with PM Narendra Modi on the right. As the young man starts to ask his question, Modi interjects and says 'Ji Tejasvi Surya... you are Surya yourself and you are Tejasvi'. It was high praise from the PM for a young lawyer from Bengaluru and the General Secretary of the Yuva Morcha in the city, during an interaction with the Karnataka Yuva Morcha in May 2018. That lawyer, Tejasvi Surya, has now been handpicked by the national BJP leadership to contest from the crucial Bengaluru South seat. But his name was not the natural choice for the state leadership, and selecting Tejasvi over Tejaswini Ananth Kumar, the wife of late Union Minister Ananth Kumar, has surprised many.  On Saturday evening, Tejaswini Ananth Kumar had visited the homes of BJP MLA from Basavanagudi – Ravi Subramanya and Tejasvi Surya, asking them to support her.  the state leadership including leaders like BS Yeddyurappa and R Ashoka had already endorsed her candidature. Within a few hours, the situation changed. The party high command had decided that Tejaswini would not be given the ticket to contest polls from Bengaluru South. Instead, they were scouting for new candidates. Finally, the party narrowed down on Tejasvi Surya.  The bigger question, however, is – why did the BJP central leadership change its mind in the last minute? Sources in the BJP said that the RSS and BJP national leadership was of the opinion that Tejaswini Ananth Kumar was not an eligible candidate, especially if the party had to retain its bastion in the long run. Making Bengaluru South an RSS hub While the state BJP leadership rooted for Tejaswini,  RSS leaders in the state like BL Santhosh had backed Tejasvi Surya's candidature from the constituency. With a sizable population of Brahmins and upper caste Hindus, Bengaluru South has been the base for RSS operations in the city for over two decades. The constituency also has a large chunk of people from the Vokkaliga and OBC communities, who have leaned towards the RSS and BJP. “In order to maintain the voter base, the party decided that it would give importance to supporting the RSS in the region when it fielded Tejasvi Surya,” a BJP source said. BJP insiders say that for both the party and the Sangh, a constituency like Bengaluru South is like Indore or Bhopal, cities that have been their pockets. Indore is from where Speaker of the Parliament Sumitra Mahajan has won elections since 1989. The BJP has retained the Bengaluru South seat since 1991 when K Venkatagiri Gowda won the elections. In 1996 Ananth Kumar won the seat and ensured that he won all subsequent elections ever since.   “The point was to give into the RSS demand of fielding a candidate acceptable to the Sangh. With pressure coming in from the sangh, they decided to field Tejasvi, who has been working with the RSS for a long time,” the source said. Read: Tejaswini Ananth Kumar shocked she lost Bengaluru South seat, but will work for BJP A few BJP leaders believe that both Modi and Amit Shah did not share an amicable relationship with Ananth Kumar initially, as he was a supporter of LK Advani. "Perhaps, they didn't feel the necessity to fight for his wife's ticket. But more than all that, this was a clear tussle with the Sangh, and they have prevailed," another BJP leader in the city said.

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Tejaswini Ananth Kumar shocked she lost Bengaluru South seat, but will work for BJP

Lok Sabha 2019

Supporters of Tejaswini Ananth Kumar shouted slogans against Tejasvi on Tuesday when he went to meet her ahead of filing his nomination.

TNM Staff

In the wee hours of Tuesday, the BJP announced that a young lawyer from Bengaluru – 28-year-old Tejasvi Surya would contest from the Bengaluru South constituency. BJP leaders in Karnataka including the party President BS Yeddyurappa had recommended that Tejaswini Ananth Kumar, wife of late Union Minister Ananth Kumar, be nominated from Bengaluru South. Ananth Kumar has represented the Bengaluru South segment since 1996 and after his demise in November last year, the party’s state leaders wanted his wife Tejaswini to contest elections. But the leadership in Delhi decided otherwise. BJP party workers, who had been campaigning in the constituency on Tejaswini’s behalf staged a dharna outside her house in VV Puram, when news of Tejasvi’s nomination came in. Speaking to the media, Tejaswini said that the decision had shocked her. "It is shocking to me and the BJP workers. Let us not ask any more questions. If we have to contribute to this country, we have to work together for Modi,” she said. BJP party workers, who supported Tejaswini Ananth Kumar also shouted slogans against Tejasvi when he went to her VV Puram residence on Tuesday morning to take her blessings ahead of filing his nomination.  Sources in the BJP say that the BJP cadre are divided over the party’s decision to offer Tejasvi Surya a ticket. "Some of the party workers have been working for Tejaswini and had worked for Ananth Kumar when he was alive. They believe that she was the deserving candidate," the source said.  Nephew of BJP MLA from Basavanagudi – Ravi Subramanya, Tejasvi Surya is a lawyer practising in the Karnataka High Court. As student of Bengaluru’s National College, Tejasvi became a member of the ABVP . He later became a member of the party’s Yuva Morcha during his days as a student in Bangalore Institute of Legal Studies and is currently serving as the general secretary of the BJP Yuva Morcha.   Meanwhile, Tejasvi, who filed his nomination at the Jayanagar BBMP office on Tuesday said that he was given a ticket only because Ananth Kumar had allowed him to grow in the party. Speaking to the media, Tejasvi said, “Ananth Kumarji ensured that I grew in the party. He has been my mentor since I was in high school. I had pestered him to allow me to work for a rally for LK Advani when I was in college. He gave me a lot of chances to grow in the party. He taught me everything about party organisation. Tejaswini Ananth Kumar is like a mother figure to me and she is happy about my nomination,” he said.   

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For Nikhil Gowda’s nomination bash, JD(S) brought in people from outside Mandya

Lok Sabha 2019

"There are so many JD(S) leaders here. Why did they have to bring in the grandson?” asked one voter.

Theja Ram

Truckloads of people gradually made their way to the Kalikambadevi Temple in Mandya. Their faces were scrunched up with exhaustion as they waited for Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy's son Nikhil Gowda to begin the procession and file his nomination papers. Around 11.30 am, the energy levels were high in the grounds outside the temple. Musical troops drummed away while people coming in from Ramanagara, Channapattana, parts of Mandya, and Hassan, began dancing to their tunes. On another side was a troop of dancers from Bengaluru, dressed in green sarees and carrying a stack of hay on their heads, trying to match their moves to the tune of a song written especially for Kumaraswamy. The result? A bizarre dance sequence of JD(S) mascots with expressionless faces, waiting to be rid of the scorching sun. Speaking to TNM, Revathamma, a 29-year-old homemaker, said she was brought in from Ramanagara district along with several other women in her village. “The people said we had to go for Anithamma (Anitha Kumaraswamy). We don't know what is going on here,” said Ravathamma.   Oddly, Revathamma was not the only one who was clueless when JD(S) party workers asked them to get into a truck and come all the way to Mandya. "They said we must shout ‘Nikhil, Nikhil’. They gave our husbands some alcohol as well. My husband, too, is here. I don't know what is happening here," said Asmathunnisa, a 31-year-old woman from Channapatna in Ramanagara district. When informed that it was an election rally, Asmathunnisa lamented how the JD(S) had reneged on its promises to the women in the state. "When they came to ask for votes, Kumaraswamy told the women he would waive off the Stree Shakti loans. I had bought a tractor with the loan amount because I wanted to start cultivating crops. Not a single rupee has been waived. All the women voted for Kumaraswamy and JD(S) in Mandya because of this promise. If I had known it was an election rally, I would have stayed home," she explained. Are people of Mandya happy with Nikhil’s candidature? A little after 1.30 pm, Nikhil Gowda, flanked by his father and Karnataka CM Kumaraswamy, finally reached the temple. As Nikhil got into his caravan and began waving, thousands of people gathered around his vehicle and started cheering him on. However, amidst the blaring music and the pro-Nikhil slogans, along the side lines, were the people of Mandya, chorusing, "Sumalatha, Sumalatha, Sumalatha!" Nikhil Gowda will be fighting against Sumalatha, wife of late former Congress MLA and actor Ambareesh, in Mandya, who has a lot of ground support in the constituency. Sumalatha wanted a ticket from the Congress, but because the party had to defer to ally JD(S), she was unceremoniously left out, and decided to contest as an independent. The actor-turned-politician has the support of BJP as well as Congress cadre on the ground. Ravi Baliga, a resident of Malavalli, said that the JD(S) leaders had amassed a lot of support during the 2018 Assembly elections but have now disappointed the people of Mandya by indulging in dynasty politics and speaking ill of Sumalatha. “People in Mandya vote for sentiment. Almost every village has a fan club for Ambareesh. When Sumalatha came to our village first, she asked us if she should contest. She did not just come here and demand votes. She enquired about our problems. Nikhil Gowda, on the other hand, is just making promises without even considering what we want. They forced us to come here and we did. But we will support Sumalatha," Ravi told TNM. Forty-eight-year-old Rangaiah, a resident of Maddur, however, said that Nikhil might win from Mandya, but for a different reason. "If you turn off all the speakers, you can hear the silence and you can see why people are not happy to be here. But there are many in Mandya, who will support Nikhil simply because they owe allegiance to the JD(S). He has a chance of winning,” Rangaiah said. After celebrations at the temple, Nikhil finally reached the Deputy Commissioner's office and submitted his nomination. Water Resource Minister DK Shivakumar, too, arrived for his cameo performance and left after a few minutes of a photo op. A few people watched Kumaraswamy and Nikhil Gowda addressing the gathering near the DC's office. LED screens dotted the streets of Mandya, airing Kumarswamy's heartfelt speech. When passers-by caught sight of the screens, they stopped and stared. "There are so many JD(S) leaders here. Why did they have to bring in the grandson?” asked Chinnanamma, a 27-year-old resident of Krishnarajpet, a taluk in Mandya district. “People would have gladly voted for JD(S) if they did not only think about improving their family. They went back on their promise to us. We, women, are the worst affected,” she added.   As Nikhil Gowda's vehicle left, a huge crowd of JD(S) workers gathered around it, waiting to catch a glimpse of the third-generation heir to the party. Minutes after his car drove away from the DC's office, the crowd dispersed. As Nikhil Gowda's nomination extravaganza had come to an end, bus stops were soon crowded, as people got ready to go back to their homes located in districts other than Mandya.    

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3-yr-old daughter of Bengaluru cop dies after falling into pile of burning garbage

Accident

The girl succumbed to her injuries on March 13 but the incident came to light only recently after the bereaved father’s message went viral on police WhatsApp groups.

TNM Staff

Representational image/ Hari Adrivekar via Jhatkaa

A three-year-old child, daughter of a Bengaluru police constable, succumbed to her injuries after she accidentally fell into a pile of burning waste while playing with her friends. The incident occurred at Shivaji Nagar police quarters in Bengaluru on March 5. The girl died on March 13 at the city’s Victoria Hospital where she was admitted since then. The victim has been identified as Harshaali, daughter of Cubbon Park Traffic Police Station constable Lokeshappa. The matter came to light after the father’s message went viral on police WhatsApp groups on Monday “What happened to my daughter shouldn’t happen to anyone. The  authorities should take note of the tragedy and initiate appropriate measures,” Lokeshappa told The Times of India.  On March 5, at around 5pm in the evening, locals had set fire to a mound of withered leaves and branches. While playing with a boy of her age, she fell into the fire. A passerby, Subash came to her help. “She was wearing nylon clothes, which caught fire. I had just entered the building and as I saw her, she began to run. I poured water from a nearby flower pot on her and removed her clothes,” he told ToI. In the meanwhile, neighbours called her mother who rushed her to Bowring Hospital. As she had suffered more than 30% burns, she was referred to Victoria Hospital.  Speaking to The Hindu, a resident said, “Garbage collected here is dumped within the quarters and set on fire every day. There are at least seven spots where garbage collectors set fire to waste. We have complained about it to the maintenance team, but the problem has not been addressed.” In the wake of viral messages, Bengaluru City Police Commissioner T Suneel Kumar has sought a report. DCP East Rahul Kumar said, “I have visited the spot, and appropriate action will be taken.”   

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BJP picks Tejasvi Surya over Tejaswini Ananth Kumar for Bangalore South seat

Lok Sabha 2019

Former MLC Ashwath Narayan has been named as Bangalore Rural candidate.

Soumya Chatterjee

Yuva Morcha leader and nephew of Basavanagudi MLA Ravi Subramanya, Tejasvi Surya is BJP’s shock candidate choice for Bangalore South, while sitting Malleshwaram MLA CS Ashwath Narayan has been selected for Bangalore Rural.  .. The decision announced late Monday night ends wide speculation around the electoral debut of Tejaswini Ananth Kumar, the wife of late sitting MP Ananth Kumar. Tejaswini had been recommended for the seat by the state party unit.  In anticipation of the party’s choice, Tejaswini had tweeted on Monday afternoon to reaffirm her commitment to the BJP.  "Today hundreds of our anxious well wishers & BJP karyakartas visited our house. I told them AnanthKumar ji always believed in: Nation First, Party Next, I Last. On the same lines let's all abide by the decision of the central leadership & work towards,” she tweeted.   Today hundreds of our anxious well wishers & BJP karyakartas visited our house. I told them AnanthKumar ji always believed in: Nation First, Party Next, I Last. On the same lines let's all abide by the decision of the central leadership & work towards#NamoAgain #ಮೋದಿಮತ್ತೊಮ್ಮೆ pic.twitter.com/60JGcnQVAD — Chowkidar Tejaswini AnanthKumar (@Tej_AnanthKumar) March 25, 2019   Ananth Kumar had been the MP from the Bangalore South seat from 1996 to his death on November 12, 2018. He had won by a handsome margin of more than two lakh votes against Congress candidate and technocrat Nandan Nilekani in 2014. The decision comes with less than a day left for filing nominations for the April 18 elections, which is the first phase of elections in Karnataka. Even while speaking to TNM on Sunday, Tejasvi had said he was surprised by the possibility of his candidacy.  “A week ago, I had also tweeted in her (Tejaswini’s) support. I was taken aback when I heard my name was being suggested,” he said.  He will face Congress Rajya Sabha member BK Hariprasad, known to be a confidante of the Gandhis.  However a BJP source had told TNM that he was among the favourites. “Tejasvi Surya has been a member of the BJP for a while and he has worked for the party. His family members have been part of the RSS and are from the Brahmin community. He has good oratory skills and is better than Tejaswini. Besides, he has experience handling political affairs,” the source said.  In Bangalore Rural, the party has gone with party spokesperson Ashwath Narayan, also a former MLC. Speculation was rife that the BJP will field cinestar Nisha, daughter of BJP leader  CP Yogeshwar. Ashwath Narayan will face DK Suresh, brother of Water Resources Minister DK Shivakumar and Congress’ troubleshooter in chief.  In 2014, DK Suresh won by a big margin of more than 2.3 lakh votes defeating BJP’s Muniraju Gowda. However, what might work in favour of the BJP is the lack of chemistry between the grassroot workers of previous archrivals JD(S) and Congress within the seat.      

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