Imports' for Ramanagara Assembly, Mandya Lok Sabha irk local BJP netas

Bengaluru: The BJP has earned the wrath of its workers for importing Congress and JD(S) leaders into the party to field in the byelections to the Mandya Lok Sabha and Ramanagara Assembly constituencies, ignoring the many aspiring to contest from both within the party .

The BJP recently inducted a Congress leader and retired Commercial Tax officer, Dr Siddaramaiah, who it reportedly intends to field in the Mandya bypoll and Chandrashekar, son of Congress MLC, C.M. Lingappa, who is likely to contest from Ramanagara.

In the process, the 13 to 15 BJP workers shortlisted as likely candidates by the Mandya BJP unit and recommended to senior leader and Mandya in- charge, R. Ashok has been ignored. Taking the party workers by surprise, Mr Ashok instead decided to induct Mr Siddaramaiah into the party after convincing BJP state chief B.S. Yeddyurappa that he was a good catch, according to a senior party functionary. His move was even more surprising to many in the party as former MLC, Ashwathnarayana was asked to get ready to file his nomination for the Mandya Lok Sabha bypoll.

Party workers involved in strengthening the BJP in Mandya are sorely disappointed by the move to field a former Congressman and have registered their protest with the party state leadership, say party sources. The decision to field Mr. Chandrashekar against Ms Anita Kumaraswamy, wife of Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy also came as a surprise to many in the party as Mr.Yeddyurappa had earlier instructed BJP Ramanagara district unit president, Rudresh to file his nomination for the bypoll, sources reveal.