Shobha Karandlaje stumbling block to Jayaprakash Hegde's entry into BJP?

Bengaluru: The powerful BJP core committee may have cleared his name but former Congress MP from Udupi and prominent Bunt leader K. Jayaprakash Hegde may not find it easy to join the saffron party with subtle attempts being made to prevent his entry.

Sources in the BJP told this newspaper that during the previous core committee meeting, leaders had cleared Jayaprakash Hegde, Kundapura MLA Haladi Srinivasa Shetty and Kapu Diwakara Hegde for induction into the party. But BJP MP from Udupi-Chikamagaluru, Ms Shobha Karandlaje has reportedly prevailed on party president and her mentor, B.S.Yeddyurappa to put the decision on Hegde on hold.

Reason: Another Bunt leader and Kundapura MLA Haladi Srinivasa Shetty, a fierce rival of Hegde, does not want him in the BJP. Mr Shetty is however yet to join the party from which he broke away in 2012.

Another reason for the opposition to Hegde's entry is that Ms Karandlaje herself feels insecure as he had unsuccessfully challenged her in the Udupi-Chikkamagaluru Lok Sabha seat as Congress candidate in the 2014 parliament polls. With pressure from Haladi Srinivasa Shetty mounting, Ms Karandlaje has succeeded in making Mr Yeddyurappa stop Mr Hedge’s entry for now, said sources.

Interestingly, after the party cleared the name of Hedge, Haladi cut short his Dubai tour, rushed to Bengaluru and met Mr Yeddyurappa, requesting him not to allow the entry of Hedge, sources added.

Party core committee leader and former deputy Chief Minister R. Ashok, who was instrumental in getting Mr Hegde closer to the BJP, said: “The core committee has already taken a decision to induct Mr Hegde. It was also decided to take in Haladi Srinivasa Shetty. In fact, the party had given 3-4 chances to Haladi to join BJP but he is yet to decide on the offer.” Another core committee leader C.T. Ravi said that if Hegde joins the party, it would help the party organization in the coastal district.