Bengaluru, Mar 6 (DHNS): Kannada filmmaker-turned-actor Upendra tendered his resignation from the Karnataka Prajavantha Janatha Party (KPJP) on Tuesday and announced that he intends to create a new party instead. He has named the new party as 'Prajakeeya', which is also his agenda in politics.
After the failure of talks between Mahesh Gowda, the founder of KPJP, and Upendra, the actor walked out of the meeting hall and announced his decision. “I have resigned for all the posts of KPJP. I will form a new political party along with the people who support my agenda,” he said.
The meeting was held in Ruppi’s resort near Ramohalli, in the outskirts of Bengaluru.
More details awaited.
Earlier report
Bengaluru: Actor Upendra to be expelled from his own party and join BJP?
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Mar 6: Cine star, Upendra, who has immense fan following, is believed to be on the way out of the party, Karnataka Prajnavantha Janata Party(KPJP), founded by him. The party, which had proposed to go to polls with high hopes of attracting young voters towards its auto rickshaw symbol, is preparing for a split before facing any election.
It is learnt that serious differences have cropped between the actor and party founder, Mahesh Gowda, on the issue of allotment of party tickets for the assembly poll. In all likelihood, unless some last minute developments take place, Upendra is expected to be expelled from the party on Tuesday March 6.
Upendra took to Twitter to share the differences he has with other office bearers of the party. Several members of KPJP's core committee had expressed their frustration at the one-sided decisions Upendra has been taking without consulting others. In this connection, party founder, Mahesh Gowda, has convened a meeting of party leaders on Tuesday, where a decision to expel Upendra from the party is likely to be taken.
Speaking to media persons, Upendra said that he wanted to support labourers and hard-working people. "We had conducted interviews and selected suitable candidates. But discordant notes were heard about the candidates we chose for the election. Differences cropped up about issuance of B forms to 150 to 200 candidates. In this background, the meeting has been convened. There was hope that everything will be sorted out at the meeting. The party leaders who had earlier said that principles are important, not money, have suddenly complained to the media that I have been behaving like an autocrat," he complained.
Many party leaders were disgruntled at the statement made by Upendra's brother at the party meeting held on March 3 that Upendra will decide about selection of candidates for the election. The members said that Upendra, who had repeatedly said that his party will uphold democratic principles, had resorted to taking unilateral decisions about issuance of party tickets.
KPJP was founded in January 2015 by Mahesh Gowda, made allegations that Upendra sidelined him from party programmes. KPJP was launched under the Prajakeeya campaign by Upendra in October 2017, who promised to fight nepotism and corruption from the society.
However, party workers are upset that Upendra appointed his wife and brother in top positions, neglecting the people who actually worked for the party. Though the party had a grand launch, there was no activity and some party workers felt that the actor has no interest.
"Elections are just two months away. We don’t even have a manifesto or action plan ready. We have questioned him on this. But he refused to react," said party vice-president Shivakumar to News 18.
He further alleged that the actor was only promoting his wife and brother. "He does not take any other party worker into confidence. He says he will decide all the tickets," he added.
Shivakumar said that there was a heated exchange of words between many leaders and Upendra at the party’s national committee meeting two days ago.
Party sources also claimed that Upendra is likely to quit the party and join BJP on Tuesday as he idolizes Prime Minister Narenda Modi. However, sources said Upendra has dismissed this idea.
People have been coming out with various comments about this development on social media. Some have remarked that this is like bringing people together under a WhatsApp group and then kicking out the administrator.
Meanwhile, the actor on March 3 on Twitter has asked people to watch out for March 6. “The real results between prajaakeeya and raajakeeya will reveal on 6th of this month. Wait and watch,” he tweeted, further giving rise to speculations on his next move.
Upendra’s spokesperson Anand defended the actor as a revolutionary leader. Election is not the only thing in which he is interested. Upendra thinks beyond that. These people must understand that, he said.
"All issues would be addressed by the superstar and there was no need for other leaders to go to media against him. Revolution won’t happen overnight," Anand said.