Vijayapura: The BJP which was claiming of receiving at least 180 applications from the aspirants to contest in the City Corporation elections, could not find candidates to field in two wards, 20 and 27.
This is for the first time in the local body election that the BJP has failed to find candidates in two of the total 35 wards of the City, even though the party is in power in the State and the City MLA also belongs to the BJP.
While Congress could find candidates for all 35 wards and the party finalised the tickets after facing tough competition among the aspirants, the BJP could not get candidates for two wards.
When contacted R. S. Patil Kuchabal, the BJP District President gave a bit surprising reply on the reason for the party not fielding the candidates for two wards.
“Since both the wards have a sizable Muslim population, therefore, no aspirant came to seek ticket from the party as they felt that the Muslims will not vote for the BJP,” he said.
When reminded that it was he who had claimed that the party had received over 180 applications from the aspirants to seek tickets, he said that they were seeking tickets for other wards.
Asked why the party which claims ‘Sab Ka Saath Sabka Vikas’ (Support of all, development of all) failed to gain the confidence of the Muslims, Kuchabal blamed the Congress for creating fear psychosis among the Muslims about the BJP.
“The Congress has pushed this psychology deep into the minds of the Muslims against the BJP that they are not ready to come out of it and start trusting the BJP,” he said.
Asked whether the delimitation of the wards has led to the party not finding candidates for two Muslim-dominated wards, Kuchabal denied it saying the Government has followed the right norms in delimitation.
When quipped if not for Hindus, the party could have given tickets to the Muslims candidates, he claimed that even the Muslims did not come seeking tickets.
“What can the party do when the aspirants show no interest in seeking tickets,” he remarked.
