Feb. 19: Amidst the media reports that he was upset with the party’s decision to field Hema Malini in the Rajya Sabha poll from the state, the Karnataka Chief Minister, Mr B.S. Yeddyurappa, on Saturday said: “The decision to field the actress for the Rajya Sabha seat from Karnataka is neither a setback nor a loss of face for me. But, you (media persons) are at liberty to say whatever you think on the matter.”
“It’s true that I gave a few suggestions to the party leadership on the selection of candidates, but the central election committee decided on the actress keeping the larger interest of the party in mind,” Mr Yeddyurappa added, claiming that he had been consulted by the party high command well before the selection was made.
Party insiders, however, continue to insist the BJP high command ignored Mr Yeddyurappa’s suggestion and decided on fielding the actress unilaterally. The Chief Minister had reportedly backed the former Union minister, Mr V. Dhananjayakumar, currently Karnataka’s special representative in New Delhi, for the Rajya Sabha from the state.
Reacting to reports that many leaders from the state were upset at one more “outsider” being fielded from Karnataka, Mr Yeddyurappa claimed there were no differences in the party on this matter and the BJP state unit had unanimously agreed to support the actress.