Mysuru: Disappointment was the reigning sentiment across party offices in the city on Monday, with rejected aspirants cutting a sorry figure, and none too keen on hiding their displeasure. Since Monday was the last day for filing nominations, the list of candidates announced by Congress, BJP and the JD(S) left many aspirants and party workers a disgruntled lot, and supporters of many of the disappointed candidates raised slogans against the party leadership. Many of the rejected aspirants said that they would contest the
MCC council elections as rebel candidates.
JS Jagadish, a former corporator from Sharadadevi Nagar from the Congress and a close aide of former chief minister Siddaramaiah joined the BJP to contest the upcoming elections from neighbouring TK layout ward. “Jagadish was denied the Congress ticket for his alleged involvement in anti-party activities during the assembly elections. Sharadevinagar is a part of the Chamundeshwari constituency, and Siddaramaiah lost the seat to the JD(S),” said sources in the Congress.
MV Ramaprasad, who has twice been elected corporator from Chamundipuram, meanwhile has been denied a ticket to contest from the ward. “I have been denied the party ticket because of a conspiracy hatched in the party against me. There are a few of them who are jealous of the possibility that I maybe made the mayor. But, I have decided to contest as an Independent and prove my mettle,” said Ramaprasad. The BJP has fielded Purushottam from Chamundipuram.
Similarly, another BJP corporator S Balasubramanyam aka ‘Snake’ Shyam, who was elected from Kuvempunagar, which has now been reserved for women, was hoping to contest the polls from Gokulam this year. However, the BJP denied him the ticket, prompting him to contest the polls as a rebel candidate.
Interestingly, as many as four corporators – Rajeshwari Somu, BL Byrappa, R Lingappa and MJ Ravikumar – who served as mayors in the current term of the council will not be contesting the polls. Incumbent mayor Bhagyavathi, whose relations with the Congress soured following her elevation, will contest the polls on a JD(S) ticket from Gangotri ward.
On the other hand, miffed at the JD(S) leadership for denying him a ticket for the polls, senior JD(S) leader Narasimhe Gowda, owner of Chiru Builders and Developers and president of Sri Jagruthi Gruha Nirmanal Sahakara Sangha, has decided to contest the elections from not one, but two wards – Hebbal and Lokanayaka Nagar. “I have been a JD(S) party worker ever since I was a student. But, I have been forced to contest the elections as a rebel candidate since the party has denied me a ticket,” said Gowda, adding that he had contributed for the development of the society in the capacity of a builder, and would like to further it as an elected representative.
High drama in Shivamogga too
The situation was not too different in Shivamogga, which is also preparing for polls to the Shivamogga City Corporation.
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) observer Narayanswamy, who was in Shivamogga to announce the final list of candidates for all the wards, was gheraoed by followers of workers who were denied tickets.
President of Shivamogga peace Organisation and Congress member Riyaz Ahmed raised slogans against former legislator KB Prasanna Kumar, accusing him of colluding with the BJP to deny his wife a ticket. “Tickets are being given only to those candidates who wield influence. Tickets are being distributed in star hotels and resorts,” said Ahmed.
However, Narayanaswamy dismissed reports of dissension within the party ranks over distribution of tickets for the polls. “We have given tickets to candidates from all sections of the society, in keeping with the ideology of the party. We have spoken to dissatisfied leaders, and assured them of giving them key positions in the party in the future,” said Narayanaswamy.
Queried about stones being pelted at the Congress office in Shivamogga allegedly by followers of disgruntled leaders, Narayanaswamy promised to look into the incident, and assured that those found guilty would face disciplinary action.
The BJP, which managed to regain its bastion in the assembly elections, was also a divided house. Ballekere Santosh’s wife Archana Ballakere, who was passed over for a ticket from Kallahalli-KHB Colony, filed her nomination papers as a rebel. Senior leader Anita Ravishankar has been given the ticket from the ward.
Meanwhile, JD(S) appeared not to face any problems in Shivamogga, where the newly appointed district president RM Manjunath Gowda is keen to prove his mettle.
