BJP forms two panels to lead its campaign and management efforts

BJP President JP Nadda on Friday announced a 24-member Election Campaign Committee, led by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and 14-member Election Management Committee with assembly polls due by May.

The campaign committee also has other former chief ministers BS Yediyurappa, DV Sadananda Gowda and Jagadish Shettar besides BY Vijayendra and national general secretary CT Ravi. The party has carefully picked names with leaders representing various communities including Lingayats, Vokkaligas, Kuruba, SC/STs, among the others. Some names including that of Union Minister Shoba Karandlaje figure in both the committees. She is also the convenor of the Election Management Committee.

Of late, the BJP is banking on Yediyurappa’s Lingayat influence to turn the tide in uncertain constituencies. To that end, the party has been pushing him as a sort of mascot in its rallies in the Vijay Sankalp Yatra throughout the state. The list also features BJP’s national general secretary CT Ravi.