Karnataka: Discontent in BJP over poll tickets

A day after the Bharatiya Janata Party released its first list of 136 candidates for the May assembly poll in Karnataka, discontent appears to be brewing in the party with those denied tickets venting their ire in public against party leaders.

BJP activists torched posters and banners of party leaders in Herekerur in Dharwad district to protest against denial of ticket to U B Banakar.

Shakuntala Shetty, a former legislator in the dissolved assembly, who has also been refused re-nomination from Puttur, expressed her displeasure and went into discussions with her supporters to chalk out the future course of plans.

It was not immediately clear whether Shakuntala will jump into the fray as a rebel.

BJP senior leader Dr V S Acharya told reporters in Mangalore that party leaders would speak to the agitated MLA and convince her of the need to work for the party's success.

Several ticket aspirants have also been holding closed-door meetings.

Early this week, a section of BJP workers from Yashanwantpur assembly segment staged a protest in front of former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa's residence, urging that the state unit general secretary Shobha Karandlaje be not given a ticket to contest from this constituency.

However, Shobha's name for Yashwanthpur constituency was cleared on Thursday by the Central Election Committee.