Bangalore: Disappointed BJP Ticket Aspirants Stage Protests
The Hindu
BANGALORE, Apr 15: The dissatisfaction among ticket aspirants seems to be increasing in the Bharatiya Janata Party though its leadership is confident that the “disappointment” is temporary.
On Monday, the party had to face embarrassing moments as the supporters of a few disappointed ticket aspirants staged separate protests in front of the residence of party general secretary H.N. Ananth Kumar here, besides trying to disrupt the Ambedkar Jayanti celebrations at the party office at Malleswaram by shouting slogans.
Protests were also staged in Humnabad and Puttur by some party workers, expressing dissatisfaction over the denial of ticket to their leaders.
The protesters in Bangalore, who hitherto were expressing their anger mainly against party’s chief ministerial candidate B.S. Yeddyurappa, on Monday trained their guns on Mr. Ananth Kumar also.
A large number of supporters of the party State executive committee member Ashwathnarayana staged a protest in front of Ananth Kumar’s residence against the denial of ticket to him to contest from the newly formed Govindarajnagar constituency in Bangalore. Ashwathnarayana, who was present on the occasion, became emotional while interacting with mediapersons. Ashwathnarayana, who had unsuccessfully contested twice from Binnypet constituency on the BJP ticket, told The Hindu that he was upset as he had been ignored despite securing second position in the last Assembly polls.
In the morning, workers from Kolar district shouted slogans to express their dissatisfaction over ticket distribution while Ambedkar Jayanti celebrations were being held at the party office.
In Jayanagar constituency, BJP corporator and former leader of the Opposition in the erstwhile Bangalore Mahanagara Palike, S. K. Nataraj, raised a banner of revolt against the party for not giving him the ticket.
Nataraj, who has served as corporator for 10 years, said he would contest the polls as a rebel from Jayanagar. He said he was upset as the party leadership had earlier assured him of giving the ticket, but later gone back on its word.
However, party leader and MLC Ramachandra Gowda sought to downplay the protests. He denied allegations that the party was facing rebellion. “There is no rebellion or dissidence. What you are seeing is only disappointment among the ticket aspirants. It is only a matter of time before such problems are overcome,” he told a press conference here.
Meanwhile, the BJP is organising an election campaign meeting in Mysore on Tuesday. It will be addressed by party central leader Sushma Swaraj and national Mahila Morcha president Kiran Maheshwari.