Daijiworld Media Network - Raichur (MS)
Raichur, Nov 8: There was a rumour making rounds ever since Pratapgouda of Maski resigned his MLA post and joined BJP that his opponent Basanagouda Turvihala would join the Congress. The rumour came true when Turvihala joined the party on Saturday, November 7. At the same time, it is said that he has resigned from the post of president of Tungabhadra Kada. It is learnt that this resignation was inevitbale for his political future.
In 2018, Pratapgouda from Congress and Basanagouda Turvihala from BJP had contested the assembly election. Pratapgouda had won the contest by a margin of just 213 votes. Basanagouda Turvihala had filed a complaint in the special court of people representatives that Pratapgouda had made illegal voting through his supporters. The court quashed the case. Though it is two months since the verdict was given by the court, the copy of the same has not yet been handed over to Pratapgouda.
In the midst of all these developments, Pratapgouda had resigned from Congress and joined BJP. From then on Basanagouda Turvihala's political career was in turmoil.
When Pratapgouda got the BJP ticket, Basanagouda was given the post of president of Tungabhadra Kada. Though he refused the post in the beginning, later he agreed owing to pressure from BJP leaders.
As the verdict against Pratapgouda was quashed, election preparations are on at Maski. BJP ticket has been confirmed for Pratapgouda in the by-election. Basanagouda had to change his party in order to secure his political career as BJP might favour Pratapgouda in the general elections also. His supporters also are pressuring him for the same. They are making various posts on social media in support of Basanagouda.
Basanagouda has joined Congress due to the pressure of his supporters. In the coming bye elections the candidates are the same as before. The only change is that the parties have got interchanged. The attempt made by Nalin Kumar Kateel to bring about cordial relation between Basanagouda and Pratapgowda twice had failed. Finally, Basanagouda joined Congress officially at the residence of D K Shivakumar. At the same time, it is also being said that he has resigned from his position of president of Tungabhadra Kada. However, there is also information that the letter is not dated and is old.