Mangalore: BJP LS ticket - Nalin Kumar's chances brighten
Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Mangalore, Mar 7: In a fresh development that would gladden the supporters of MP Nalin Kumar Kateel of BJP, it is learnt that the sitting MP, who was on the brink of losing his Lok Sabha ticket from Mangalore, has finally succeeded in convincing top RSS leaders who had reservations about his candidature.
After a week of unexpected drama and a series of closed door meetings between the BJP and RSS leaders, the party is almost certain to retain its candidate, said highly placed sources to daijiworld. The RSS leaders have reportedly given their consent to issue ticket to Nalin Kumar, as they feel that any last minute change may be detrimental to BJP's chances as well as to the party's reputation.
Earlier in the week, internal bickering as well as a report by a survey team appointed by the national BJP on PM candidate Narendra Modi's directives, coupled with pressure from RSS had forced the party to reconsider Nalin's candidature. Names of Bantwal's Rajesh Naik and advocate P P Hegde were doing the rounds as a possible replacement to Nalin.
However, sources further said after several rounds of core committee meetings in the district as well as in the state, it was decided that Nalin Kumar would contest the election. The leaders felt that Nalin's public image as a non-corrupt MP, and more importantly, the fact he made the maximum use of his MP fund in five years, would tip the scales in his favour when the district goes to polls.
Even though the internal survey report of BJP on Nalin's popularity suggested drawbacks and pointed at the possibility of him losing the election, his efforts in making the recent Modi rally in the city a massive success played a vital role in convincing the RSS think tank and BJP top leadership, sources said.
Nevertheless, when daijiworld contacted Nalin Kumar over the phone, he chose to remain non-committal and said that the ticket was not confirmed yet, and that several meetings are still to be held before the final declaration of the candidate from Dakshina Kannada. The MP's reluctance to acknowledge the latest development probably indicates that the battle for the coveted ticket is far from over, and it wouldn't be a surprise if indeed BJP announces a change at the last minute.