2nd list brings up anger of leaders; exodus likely

Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT

Bengaluru:

The release of the second list of candidates has created rumblings in the state Congress unit with scores of leaders outpouring their anger against the state leaders for denying them tickets to contest in the May 10 Assembly polls. Already, some of them have knocked on the doors of the BJP and Janata Dal (Secular) and requested them to consider their candidature to defeat the Congress candidates. The rebellion is witnessed in Chitradurga, Dharwad, Belagavi, Ballari, Tumakuru, and Shivamogga districts, and it is likely to spread to other districts once the next list is released.

For mer MLC, Raghu Achar, a wealthy politician who owns a chopper, accused KPCC President DK Shivakumar of cheating and dumping him after using it for almost two years. Achar was a strong contender for the Chitradurga constituency and for this reason he had spent money even before the announcement of the elections to woo the voters.

“The State leaders had asked me to contest in the Assembly election instead of the Legislative Council election. I had dedicated everything to the party. But Shivakumar cut his neck in half just because the caste to which I belong is not strong. My political career is ruined. The Vishwakarma community has around 5,000 to 17,000 votes in each constituency and that community will not support the Congress Party henceforth. The voters will teach a lesson to the Congress in the coming election. I will visit every constituency, meet the community seers and request them to advise the community voters not to support the Congress Party. Since I have already decided to contest, I will do it as an independent candidate or from another party. Before that, I will consult my friends and advisers before making any decision”.

Chabbi to join BJP Having missed the ticket, former MLC, Nagaraj Chabbi is in consultation with the BJP and planning to join in a day or two. The party has given a ticket to Santosh Lad, a mining baron from Ballari, but chose to contest from the Kalghatgi constituency in the Dharwad district. He won in the 2013 Assembly polls but lost in the 2018 election. Chabbi is learned to have held a secret meeting with his friends and well-wishers and is likely to tender his resignation to the Congress Party.

In Gokak, the Congress has given a ticket to an unknown candidate by neglecting the seniority of Ashok Pujari who was forced to join the Congress Party two years ago by promising him the ticket for the Assembly polls. The supporters of Pujari have given two days for the Pradesh Congress Committee to set right this injustice failing which they have threatened to field him as an independent candidate or from another party. The Congress workers held a protest rally in Gokak town and raised slogans against the state leaders.

Datta ignored Former MLA and senior JDS leader, YSV Datta who recently joined the Congress Party, had been denied a ticket from the Kadur constituency much to the surprise of everyone. He was brought to the Congress Party by Siddaramaiah promising him the ticket in the Assembly polls. But the state leaders have given a ticket to another candidate much to the unhappiness among workers. The local JDS leaders have asked him to return to the party and to contest on their party symbol.

Meanwhile, the State leaders have refused to succumb to the pressure of Yogesh Babu, an aspirant from the Molkalmur Constituency in Chitradurga district, and given a ticket to the BJP MLA NY Gopalakrishna. Recently, the supporters of Yogesh Babu had threatened to resign en masse or contest as a rebel candidate if Gopalakrishna was given the ticket. Yogesh Babu had contested on the Congress ticket and lost to B.Sriramulu in the 2018 Assembly election.