Former chairman of Legislative Council Basavaraj Horatti, who has won for a record seven times in the Council elections, announced on Sunday that he would be filing his nomination papers as the official candidate of the BJP on May 26.
Speaking to presspersons after inaugurating the BJP poll office in Dharwad on Sunday, Mr. Horatti, who quit the Janata Dal(Secular) to join BJP recently, said that there was no confusion as to who would be the official candidate of the BJP in the election for the Karnataka West Teachers constituency of the Legislative Council.
“I am the official candidate and will file my nomination papers on May 26,” he declared.
Mr. Horatti claimed that he had received the green signal from the BJP high command which had asked him to prepare for contesting the poll.
He said the State leaders of the party too had impressed upon the party high command on the necessity of fielding him and consequently his preparations had begun.
He, however, declined to comment on former MLC Mohan Limbikai’s claim that he (Limbikai) would be the official BJP candidate.
It might be recalled that despite Mr. Horatti announcing that he would contest as BJP candidate for the eighth term, aspirants for the party ticket, including Mr. Limbikai, have continued their efforts to get one.
To a query, Mr. Horatti said that canvassing for the constituency was a herculean task. However his cordial relations with teachers in the last three decades would ensure him an easy win.
Speaking to presspersons, Arvind Bellad, MLA, said that fielding Mr. Horatti on BJP ticket from the West Teachers’ constituency was almost finalised.
Mr. Bellad said that Mr. Horatti had spoken to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday and he had received the green signal.
Accordingly, Mr. Horatti had begun his poll preparations, he said, adding that the list of the party candidates for the Council polls would be released in a day or two.
To a query, Mr. Bellad said that he was not aware of Mr. Limbikai being considered for party ticket from West Teachers’ Constituency.
