A day after BJP State president B.S. Yeddyurappa announced that Congress leader and former Minister A. Manju was interested in joining the party, there is opposition from the rank and file of the party in Hassan district.
Commenting that the former Minister had become “stale food” for the Congress, Hassan district BJP president H. Yogaramesh on Monday hinted that he would oppose if the party decides to field Mr. Manju as the Lok Sabha candidate for Hassan seat.
At a press conference, Mr. Yogaramesh said Mr. Manju had obtained a “doctoral thesis in switching political parties”. He was with the BJP and left it, leaving the party in a shambles in the district. “He joined the Congress and became a Minister as well. Now, look at the State of the Congress in Hassan. If he was a strong leader, the Congress would have not been reduced to the present State in the district. When he is unwanted within the Congress, how could he help the BJP increase its strength in the district?” he sought to know.
The former legislator B.V. Kari Gowda said district leaders had told senior leaders of the party not to “import” any leaders ahead of the polls.