The dissidence in the Bharatiya Janata Party is slowly getting louder after the release of the first list of candidates. On Friday, Molakalmur in Chitradrurga district witnessed an ugly turn of events, with slippers and stones being thrown at the vehicle of party candidate for the constituency B. Sriramulu.
The police had to resort to lathi-charge twice to disperse the supporters of incumbent MLA for Molakalmur S. Thippeswamy, who tried to block the vehicle of Mr. Sriramulu and also tried to gherao him during his visit to Sri Thipperudraswamy temple at Nayakanahatti village in Molakalmur taluk.
There was tension in the air since morning at Nayakanahatti. Member of the Rashtriya Parishat of the BJP Venkata Shastri, who had come to oversee the preparations for Mr. Sriramulu’s campaign, bore the brunt of the protesters. He suffered minor injuries and was forced to take shelter in a house to protect himself from the onslaught.
The police had to lathi-charge to disperse the crowd. After additional forces were pressed into service, Mr. Sriramulu entered the temple under police cover. However, as he was departing from the temple, slippers and stones were thrown at his vehicle by angry protesters. The vehicle’s windowpanes were damaged.
Undeterred by the violent protests, Mr. Sriramulu continued his campaign and said he would not file any complaint against those who pelted stones at his vehicle.
Addressing reporters after the temple visit, Mr. Sriramulu ruled out meeting Mr. Thippeswamy to sort out differences. “There is no question of withdrawing from the constituency as the party has issued clear instructions to contest from Molakalmur,” he said.
BJP rebels to contest as Independents
In at least two constituencies in the erstwhile undivided Dharwad district, the BJP is facing the heat of rebellion. After being denied BJP ticket, Somanna Bevinamarad, MLC, has already begun campaign in Shiggaon segment as an Independent. In fact, another former MLA from the constituency Rajashekhar Sindhur, with whom Mr. Somanna and two others held a press meet seeking party ticket to any one of them, is now said to be helping Mr. Somanna in his electoral battle.
The BJP is also facing rebellion in the Dharwad Assembly segment. After the party chose Amrut Desai, who switched over to the BJP from the JD(S), as the candidate, Seema Masuti, the former MLA, is upset. Not heeding to the requests by party seniors, she has now decided to contest as an Independent.
