BJP asks rebels to pull out of poll fray

The BJP has threatened to initiate disciplinary action against party rebels, who have filed their nominations for the ensuing assembly elections, if they do not withdraw from the fray by April 23.

Stung by the entry of a large number of rebels into the poll fray, BJP’s Karnataka unit President D V Sadananda Gowda said the party had given the rebels time till April 23, the last date for filing nominations, to withdrawn from the fray. “If they do not retract, the party will initiate disciplinary action against them”, he said.

Several BJP leaders, who were disappointed with the party leadership for denying them a party ticket, had filed their nomination papers against the official candidates in several constituencies in the state, much to the discomfiture of the party leadership.

These BJP leaders had raised a banner of revolt soon after the party leadership announced the list of officials candidates chosen to contest the ensuing assembly poll from various constituencies in the state.

“The BJP is a disciplined party and the party workers should maintain it”, Gowda told reporters.

Meanwhile, the BJP will release its election manifesto on April 21. “We will make promises that can be fulfilled and not ones like distributing colour television sets”, the BJP leader said.

The BJP manifesto apart from dwelling on programmes the party promises to implement if voted to power will also dwell on the reasons that brought down the B S Yedyurappa-led Government in November last year and the hardship caused to people by soaring prices of essential commodities, he said.

The BJP has already announced that it would provide free power supply for irrigation pumpsets, besides agricultural loans at an interest rate of Rs 3 per cent to farmers.