BANGALORE: The state BJP will finalise its candidate for the impending by-election to the Chikmagalur-Udupi parliamentary constituency by next week. The seat was vacated by Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda last month following his election to the Upper House. The names of Kundapur BJP MLA Haladi Srinivas Shetty, former MLA Sunil Kumar, Uday Shetty (all from Udupi district) and Chikmagalur district BJP president Pranesh are doing the rounds.
The BJP core committee meeting is likely to be held by this weekend to decide on the proposed state-tour by its leaders to demonstrate their unity.The RSS while brokering peace between Eshwarappa and former C M B S Yeddyurappa last week had advised state leaders to tour unitedly.
“Yeddyurappa is touring the state on the invitation by some BJP MLAs. There is nothing wrong in it,” Eshwarappa said while trying to down play the former chief minister’s tour.