The Hindu
Pics: Prajwal Ukkuda
Daijiworld Media Network

MANGALORE, Apr 12: It was reunion with his old friends for the three-time MLA A. Rukmayya Poojary, when he rejoined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at a function at the party’s office here on Friday.

He had won on BJP ticket from the erstwhile Vittla Assembly constituency. Poojary had defected from the party three years ago.

K. Monappa Bhandary, president of the district unit of the BJP, re-inducted Mr. Poojary by handing over the party’s flag to him. Former Minister V.S. Acharya, Mukhyamantri Chandru and other leaders of the party were present.

Differences

Poojary said that it was homecoming for him. “I had quit the party owing to differences of opinion with some leaders. But my heart was with the BJP. I had identified myself with S. Bangarappa but did not join the Samajwadi Party. I am returning to BJP at the behest of some leaders of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and party workers,” he said.

Association with RSS

Poojary claimed that he was associated with the RSS, and later with the erstwhile Jan Sangh, since 1968. He was among those who built the BJP in Dakshina Kannada.

Future

He said that he would work for the party and accept whatever responsibility the party would entrust him with.

Elections

Bhandary said that Poojary was elected to State Assembly from Vittla in 1983, 1989 and 1994. He contested for Udupi Lok Sabha seat from BJP in 1991 but lost.

Chandru said that Poojary had not deserted the party but the party had sent him on a tour for three years to study the happenings outside the party. It was homecoming for him today.

Manifesto

Acharya said that the party’s manifesto was in its final stages of completion and that it would be released on April 15. He said that the Congress leaders were panicking because the BJP would come to power in the State. “Hence it released its manifesto in a hurry,” he added.

Former MLAs N. Yogish Bhat, B. Nagaraja Shetty and K. Padmanabha Kottari were present.