The BJP has given ticket to M.N. Reddy, chairman of Ayodhya Rama Temple Complex who took the lead in getting the 62-ft Hanuman statue erected here, to contest the Assembly election from Sarvagna Nagar. He will take on Bengaluru Development Minister K.J. George, who is seeking re-election.
The controversy over the statue had taken a political turn earlier this month when Mr. Reddy accused Mr. George of being anti-Hindu, claiming that he was attempting to prevent the statue from entering the temple. A case of rioting was registered against him after over a thousand people he was leading in a procession clashed with the police.