edited by: Revathi Hariharan
Last Update: March 17, 2023, 4:47 PM IST
BJP workers blocked Yeddyurappa’s vehicle and staged a sit-in against the party’s candidature for the Mudigere constituency. (News18 photo)
BJP’s Vijay Sankalp Rath Yatra in Karnataka was forcefully canceled on Thursday following a dispute over ticket distribution at Mudigere in Chikkamagaluru district.
Former Karnataka Chief Minister and respected BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa has promised the party high command that despite his retirement from electoral politics, he will continue to work hard for the party’s electoral victory in the upcoming assembly elections.
But even the party stalwart is progressing his curve by leading the Vijay Sankalp Rath Yatra in the state, which was forcefully canceled on Thursday after a dispute over ticket distribution broke out at Mudigere in Chikkamagaluru district.
BJP workers blocked Yeddyurappa’s vehicle and staged a sit-in against the party’s candidature for the Mudigere constituency. Three-time MLA MP Kumaraswamy has been chosen for the seat reserved for Scheduled Castes.
heavy political conflict
The drama unfolded when party general secretary CT Ravi and former Union minister DV Sadananda Gowda were all present along with BS Yediyurappa. The protesters raised slogans against the sitting MLA and urged the party leaders to field a fresh face for the upcoming assembly polls. He claims that MP Kumaraswamy does not work for him and does not take him into account in various fields.
CT Ravi, who hails from Chikkamagaluru district, targeted party workers. He was soon forced to get down from his vehicle to pacify the workers. In a video, the general secretary is also seen reprimanding party workers for defaming the party.
Failing to pacify the disgruntled party workers, the former chief minister and other leaders then had to go to Chikkamagaluru, where they attended a public meeting organized as part of the yatra.
MLA accused of caste discrimination
BJP MLA MP Kumaraswamy, who has faced opposition from his constituents in the past, broke down and alleged that he was being targeted because he belonged to the Scheduled Caste.
He, however, said that he would follow Yediyurappa’s words and continue to work hard and be worthy of his ticket for the election. The decision of the party in the matter will be considered final.
“It is because I am from Scheduled Caste that is why I am being targeted. Would I have been treated like this if I was a normal person? They are clearly doing this because I am SC. I will do whatever the party says. Yediyurappa has asked me to continue my work and I will do so,” Kumaraswamy said.
The infighting in the state BJP unit is at its peak ahead of the assembly elections in the state due in May. In a similar incident, a fight broke out between ticket-seekers ahead of Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai’s visit to Cortegere on Thursday.
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