High drama as BJP men rebel against legislator

CHIKKAMAGALURU: Anger among saffron party workers against incumbent legislator MP Kumaraswamy spilled on to the streets in Mudigere, Chikkamagaluru, on Thursday forcing former CM BS Yediyurappa and party national general secretary CT Ravi to rush to calm tempers.
BJP was also forced to call off its Vijaysankalpa Yatra scheduled in Mudigere, a reserved seat which Kumaraswamy represents. The threetime MLA said he is being targeted because he is a Dalit.
While the MLA’s detractors shouted slogans and mobbed top functionaries, his supporters joined in, demanding the party renominate him. As tensions escalated, police moved in and tightened security. Yediyurappa left in a huff, while Ravi criticised party workers for staging the protest.
Hours before the start of the yatra, hundreds of party workers opposing Kumaraswamy met in the town in a bid to mount pressure on senior leaders to change the candidate for the seat. They claim Kumaraswamy has not worked for his constituents, the party or developed the constituency.
Yediyurappa, Ravi and former CM DV Sadananda Gowda were present. In a brief interaction with reporters, Yediyurappa dismissed opposition to the MLA saying it is common during elections. He said the high command will take a call on candidates. This only infuriated those opposing the MLA and tensions escalated.
“I lost only once (in 2013) and I will easily win this time too,” Kumaraswamy later said. “Yediyurappa promised me the ticket and asked me to continue campaigning. ”
‘Need support of all’
Yediyurappa said he did not approve of party national general secretary CT Ravi’s stand that the saffron party does not need the support of Lingayats to return to the helm. “We need the support of all to win elections,” Yediyurappa said. “I will speak to Ravi. ”