Bangalore : The BJP central leadership on Friday selected well-known film actress Hema Malini as its candidate for the Rajya Sabha byelection in Karnataka in place of former minister V.Dhanajay Kumar whos name had been recommended by state CM and BJP  it may be noted that Hemamalini is not known in Karnataka politics and there is no reson why she should be picked up instead of  a local personality in Karnataka.
The seat has only a balance  of one year left  to complete the term. In such circumstances bringing an out sider to stand for election does no credit to the high command in Delhi, but brings discomfiture to local leaders who had recommended Dhananjay earlier.  BJP general secretary Ananth Kumar said Hema Malini, 63, has been serving the party since long and has taken part in election campaigns. Obviously he has got the better of CM.
The party choice, which has caught many unawares, shocked Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa whose choice was former Union minister V Dhananjay Kumar, currently the state representative in Delhi.
That the state election committee failed to meet and send in its recommendation came in handy for the national election committee to take a decision in favour of the Hindi film star, who is not known in Karnataka politics.
“It sent out a wrong signal that the committee was not united. Thus, it became easier for the national committee to select the actress,” party sources said.
Hema Malini is the second non-Kannadiga to be nominated for the Rajya Sabha membership by the BJP. Party general secretary M Venkaiah Naidu from Andhra Pradesh has been a Rajya Sabha member for three terms from Karnataka, whereas  no Kannadiga has been favoured so far in Andhra  or South India.
Nothing prevents Hema Malini from contesting for the vacant Rajya Sabha seat, though she neither resides in Karnataka nor is she a registered voter in the State.
When the NDA-led government was in power, it amended the People’s Representatives Act which stipulates that a person need not be a voter of a particular state from where he/she contests Rajya Sabha elections.