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National's David Carter is considering backing out of the selection battle for the new Selwyn electorate, blaming bad blood between himself and supporters of National renegade Brian Connell.
Mr Carter was originally selected unopposed for the newly created rural South Island seat late last year.
However, the party's president Judy Kirk re-opened the selection after 35 party members lodged a complaint that the selection committee breached National Party processes by pressuring other candidates to step aside.
Mr Carter, National's agriculture spokesman and front bench National MP, said because of bad blood after the demise of Rakaia MP Brian Connell he was considering running on the List only, rather than face-off against about 12 candidates who were expected to stand when nominations reopen next month.
"There is a relatively small but vocal group of Connell supporters who seem to believe I was responsible for Brian's fall from grace within the caucus. They will be part of the selection process. So it's a very divided electorate because of its recent history. What's important now is selecting a candidate that has the ability to get the different factions in the electorate working together. I'm just weighing up whether I'm the right person to be the candidate if that is to happen."
The Selwyn electorate was formed after boundary changes last year and takes in the rural areas of Banks Peninsula, including Mr Carter's farm, and much of Brian Connell's Rakaia electorate, which will be abolished at the next election.
Mr Connell denied bad blood from his camp was behind any pressure on Mr Carter not to stand.
"I've got no particular beef with David. I think he's done a reasonable job and as part of a transparent process he's got as much chance as anyone else of being selected.
"I haven't campaigned against David at all and it's much broader than just a personality difference between David and I."
He said the problem in the electorate was with the way the selection process was first held, which was perceived to be to Mr Carter's advantage.
"There is some dissension in the electorate but it's too cute and neat to say it's about supporters of mine. It's not about David, it's about the selection process. That's the bone of dissent.
"There's a huge number of people who are frustrated at the way National ran the process and they are not necessarily Brian Connell supporters - there are too many people holding that view for them all to be Brian Connell supporters."
Mr Carter said the National Party board had offered him one of the List positions reserved for five candidates not required to run in an electorate.
He said taking this option would have advantages if National was in Government and he was made agriculture spokesman because he would have the freedom to travel the country.
