Date:12/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/12/stories/2008041254340400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

BJP faces resentment

Special Correspondent

Teams formed to talk to disappointed aspirants
Party set to finalise its poll manifesto on Saturday

BANGALORE: Close on the heels of announcement of 136 names of candidates for the ensuing elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party is facing resentment from those who could not make it.

The BJP, which informally commenced its election campaign long ago even before the announcement of elections, had a large number of ticket aspirants. As a result, the heartburns are also more in the party.

A senior party functionary told The Hindu that the party has constituted various teams of senior leaders and elderly party workers to talk to those ticket aspirants, who did not get tickets. Each team is concentrating on two to three districts. These teams will try to take the disappointed ticket aspirants into confidence and explain to them the political compulsions which came in the way of not considering their candidature.

Even as these efforts continued, an anonymous advertisement appeared in a local eveninger accusing the party top brass of betraying the sentiments of loyal party workers while issuing tickets.

Meanwhile, the BJP is set to finalise its poll manifesto on Saturday. The party leaders will hold consultations with BJP national general secretary and Karnataka Polls in-charge Arun Jaitley in this regard on Saturday.