Daijiworld Media Network- Mysuru (RJP)

Mysuru, Feb 10: Angered by the attitude of senior party leaders, a group JD(S) workers set fire to the party office at H D Kote near here on Tuesday, February 9.

The reason cited for this act is that the party had reportedly not issued valid  ‘B’ form to taluk unit president C P Nagaraju for the Zilla Panchayat polls. This triggered the emotions of his supporters to set ablaze the furniture and portraits of JD(S) leaders H D Deve Gowda and H D Kumaraswamy at the party office. They also raised slogans against the leaders.

As per details, Nagaraju had secured a ‘B’ form to contest from Hampapura ZP constituency. At the same time, it is said Eregowda from Mymul also got a B form from another JD(S) leader H D Revanna for the same constituency.

When confusion arose, C P Nagaraju accompanied by MLC Sandesh Nagaraj and K R Nagara MLA Sa Ra Mahesh met Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy and had requested the leaders to declare him as the official candidate. C P Nagaraju supporters thought the issue ended there.

But Eregowda submitted the B form issued by the party on Tuesday which angered teh C P Nagaraju supporters which made them set ablaze the office.

Fire brigade which rushed to the spot, managed to extinguish the fire. Nagaraju later speaking to reporters said that he had worked hard to strengthen the party in the area and his supporters have been pressuring him to contest and not to withdraw from the polls.

“Nagaraju and his supporters should abide by the decision of the party leadership. They should not involve in such acts,” said Eregowda reacting to the incident.

MLA Chikkamadu said that the party would sort out the issue without complaining to police.