Bengaluru: In 1996, Bengaluru South Lok Sabha Constituency was held by BJP MP K. Venkatagiri Gowda, a veteran. Although he was expecting a re-election, the BJP decided to bring in a young candidate to Bengaluru South.

The candidate was 37-year-old Ananth Kumar. The decision to give a newcomer the ticket was frowned upon by many in the party, pointing out that 37-year-old Ananth Kumar was inexperienced and an ‘outsider’ from Hubballi. But to everyone’s surprise, Ananth Kumar defeated Varalakshmi, the widow of former Chief Minister R. Gundu Rao.

Since then, he hasn’t lost an election in Bengaluru South, even though stalwarts like Nandan Nilekani had taken him on.

According to sources in the party, choosing Tejasvi Surya over Ananth Kumar’s wife Tejaswini was a similar decision — to create another Ananth Kumar in Bengaluru South.

The Late Decision

Bengaluru South is considered a BJP bastion and a “safe seat”, since the party hasn’t lost since 1991. But the candidate for this Constituency was announced post-midnight (Mar.26) with only a few hours left for the submission of the nomination.

The seat held by late BJP leader Ananth Kumar for six terms was initially offered to his wife Tejaswini Ananth Kumar. But her name was missing from the initial BJP list. Soon, party leadership made it clear that she will not be given a ticket.

As the discussion prolonged, sitting MLAs and senior leaders like Suresh Kumar and Ravi Subramanya were considered for the seat.

However, post-midnight, the decision was taken that Tejasvi Surya, the preferred candidate of B.L. Santosh-led RSS faction of the BJP in Karnataka, will be made the candidate.