MANGALURU: The
Karnataka Rajya Kshatriya Okkoota on Thursday put the BJP leadership on notice over last minute U-turn on candidature of
J Krishna Palemar from
Mangaluru City North assembly constituency. Describing the turn of events that saw party give ticket to
Dr Y Bharat Shetty after having sought Palemar’s details for the B-form, the Okkoota stated that 50-lakh strong
Kshatriya community will not easily forget this slight unless the BJP makes swift amends.
J Krishnananda Rao, president of the Okkoota reminded the BJP that the community, 99.99% of whom back the BJP unequivocally believing in its ideologies and principles, is hurt at the ‘politics’ played by vested interests that preferred Dr Bharat over the former minister Palemar. “Palemar hails from the backward Kshatriya community and it is his contribution that has seen the party grow to its present stature in the city as well in the urban local body,” Rao said.
The Okkoota which held a meeting on Wednesday has tentatively decided to boycott the polls unless they get concrete assurance that the slight done to Palemar is effectively addressed, he said. “We are considering boycotting the polls or even using the NOTA option,” if our concerns are not addressed, he said, adding the BJP should also keep in mind the fact that this is not the last elections that it will have to face given that general elections are an year away.
The Okkoota has decided to represent the issue to PM
Narendra Modi when he comes to campaign in Udupi, Rao said, adding efforts are on in this direction. Okkoota is also hurt at the preference of BJP for forward classes not just in distribution of seats for the assembly constituencies but also in other statutory bodies, he said, adding if the BJP failed to address concerns raised, it should not be held responsible for any future course of action or election results.
