BJP sets aside Muthalik’s induction

Opposition from within and outside leads to the party’s decision to set aside the induction of the Sri Rama Sene chief, linked to the 2009 attack on women at a Mangalore pub

March 23, 2014 05:58 pm | Updated May 19, 2016 10:55 am IST - Hubli

BANGALORE (HUBLI) 23.03.2014 - Sri Ram Sene chief Pramod Muthalik who joined  BJP in Hubli In the presence of president Prahlad Joshi, former chief minister Jagadeesh Shettar and K.S.Eshwarappa.   (BJP EMAIL HANDOUT)

BANGALORE (HUBLI) 23.03.2014 - Sri Ram Sene chief Pramod Muthalik who joined BJP in Hubli In the presence of president Prahlad Joshi, former chief minister Jagadeesh Shettar and K.S.Eshwarappa. (BJP EMAIL HANDOUT)

The jubilation in the BJP circle, particularly in Hubli-Dharwad, on winning over the controversial ‘Hindutva’ leader and founder of Sri Ram Sene Pramod Muthalik, and his subsequent induction by the State BJP leadership here on Sunday was shortlived as the BJP’s national leadership decided against inducting him into the party.

BJP State president and Dharwad MP Pralhad Joshi said: “Due to various reasons induction of Shri Pramod Muthalik has been set aside under central party directions.”

The firebrand right wing activist, who defended the actions of his followers in the pub attack in Mangalore in 2009 was named as an accused in the case He is also facing several cases registered against for delivering inflammatory speeches. Mr. Muthalik was welcomed into the BJP by Mr. Pralhad Joshi, in the presence of former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, and former State party president, K.S. Eshwarappa, on Sunday.

M. Mohit Rao and Raghava M. reports from Mangalore:

In the pub attack case Mr. Muthalik was listed as 33rd accused. The convenor of the Sri Ram Sene, Prasad Attavar, also figured in the list.

Though the case has been stayed in the High Court, and the verdict is yet to be delivered, over the years there were fissures in the organsiation following Mr. Muthalik’s inclination towards politics.

“He went on his own after the incident, taking credit for it, while we workers are still burdened by the cases,” said Mr. Attavar He has since formed his own group, Ram Sene, that stays clear of politics “to focus on the protection of Hindu culture. And now, he has gone back leaving us in the lurch” complained Mr. Attavar.

In fact, Mr. Mutalik, who initially worked in different capacities with the ‘Sangh Parivar,’ had actually planned to contest from Dharwad Lok Sabha constituency against the BJP State president, Pralhad Joshi this time.

And his sudden ‘’change of heart” is said to be under pressure from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a point which Mr. Mutalik admitted to the presspersons in Hubli after his formal induction into the BJP.

Mr. Mutalik told journalists that as he and BJP had the common goal of making Narendra Modi as the next Prime Minister, contesting against the party would only result in division of votes. He said that Sene would be withdrawing its candidates from contesting in six constituencies, a decision which was taken earlier.

0 / 0
Sign in to unlock member-only benefits!
  • Access 10 free stories every month
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.