Hubballi: State BJP president B.S. Yeddyurappa managed to douse the rebellion in Chikkodi Lok Sabha constituency by pacifying BJP leader Ramesh Katti and his brother Umesh Katti in Belagavi on Monday.
Ramesh was upset over the denial of the Chikkodi ticket. Setting to rest rumours about him joining the Congress, Ramesh claimed that the nation and Prime Minister Narendra Modi matter more to him and his brother than their political careers.
Though he was a strong aspirant for the Chikkodi constituency ticket, the party high command has given the ticket to Annasaheb Jolle. This had prompted the disgruntled brothers to convene a meeting in Hukkeri to elicit the opinion of their supporters.
“We are upset over the denial of the ticket as I was a strong contender. But, there is no question of me quitting the party as we will abide by the decision of the party high command. We will work in favour of the party candidate in the election", said Ramesh Katti before meeting with party president Mr Yeddyurappa.
Sources said that both Katti brothers expressed their displeasure to Yeddyurappa during the meeting for choosing Jolle for Chikkodi. Meanwhile, Umesh Katti clarified that Congress or JD(S) leaders have not made any offer to them. Earlier, it was said that both BJP leaders were contacted by Congress leaders including Siddaramaiah and D.K. Shivakumar.
Expressing confidence that the BJP will win both Belagavi and Chikkodi Lok Sabha seats, Yeddyurappa said that all leaders of the party are united in the district. "Naturally, Ramesh Katti was an aspirant for the party ticket from Chikkodi. But, the party high command has decided to field Annasaheb Jolle and we will work together to ensure his victory. The party will give a proper position to Ramesh Katti at an appropriate time", Yeddyurappa said.
Criticising the Congress-JD(S) rally held in Bengaluru, the BJP leader said that both parties failed to mobilise 4-5 lakh people as claimed by them and only 70,000 people converged for the convention. He also said that coordination committee chairman Siddaramaiah did not take part in the election campaign in favour of JD(S) candidates despite appeals made to him by Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy.
Lashing out at allegations of pay-offs made by him to BJP national leaders, Yeddyurappa claimed that the AICC president lacks maturity and said that charges are being leveled against him despite Income Tax officials terming the diary (in which the payoffs were allegedly mentioned) as fake. He also said that he will quit politics if the corruption charges against him are proved.
