Kundapur: Veteran leader Mani Gopal leaves BJP in a huff

Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Apr 11: Senior BJP leader and former chairman of Kundapur Urban Development Authority (KUDA) Mani Gopal on Wednesday April 10 announced that he would be quitting the party by resigning from its primary membership. It is said that Mani Gopal, whose name was widely in circulation as a possible party candidate for the ensuing assembly election after the resignation of sitting MLA, Halady Srinivas Shetty, is angry at the fact that the party leaders cold-shouldered him.

Mani Gopal, who was a Congress loyalist in the past, was brought into the BJP fold by senior politician, A G Kodgi. He had fought the assembly elections against the late Kaup Sanjeev Shetty and Pratapchandra Shetty K as a Congress candidate in 1978 and JNP candidate in 1983 respectively. Then, in 1985 and 1989, he fought against Congress legislator, G S Achar, from Byndoor assembly constituency, with support from Karnataka Kranti Ranga. After Achar breathed his last, he was brought back into Congress fold by Veerappa Moily and Pratapchandra Shetty. He fought the next election in 1994 from Byndoor, but could not register victory because of internal conflicts in the party.

A G Kodgi, who had taken up the task of building BJP in the district, convinced Gopal to reverse his decision of staying away from politics. Kodgi convinced Gopal to join BJP, after which Gopal served as the president of BJP constituency committee president. He was also made chairman of KUDA.

There are rumours that Mani Gopal, who was actively touring the district for furthering the interests of the BJP till recently, was nursing hopes of contesting from Kundapur constituency on a BJP ticket this time after the departure of Halady.

Frustrated at the choice of Kishore Kumar for the seat by the BJP leaders, he has decided to stay aloof, it is felt.

He said that he is disturbed by lack of internal democracy within the BJP, and is therefore, leaving the party. He said his decision is to stay away from politics, but hastened to add that he will take a final decision in consultation with his well-wishers and supporters.