Ticket denial: Many dissidents see Pralhad Joshi ‘hand’

HUBBALLI: Even three days after ruling BJP announced its first list of candidates for the forthcoming assembly polls in the state, the frayed nerves, charges, counter-charges, allegations and dissidence show just no sign of dying down.
Interestingly, several of those who have failed to get a ticket are pointing fingers at party colleague Pralhad Joshi for what they believe were his machinations that largely put paid to their ticket prospects.
While sitting Kalghatgi MLA CM Nimbannavar openly alleged that Joshi was the one responsible for him not getting a ticket, former Kundagol MLA SI Chikkanagoudar was rather sarcastic in claiming that “A great leader has succeeded in denying me a ticket”. It can be recalled that Chikkanagoudar’s daughter Nanda had publicly held Joshi responsible for her father’s defeat in the 2018 assembly polls.
Joshi, though, has categorically denied all such allegations. A four-time MP from Dharwad, Joshi is currently a Union minister with the important portfolio of Parliamentary Affairs. He is being seen in many quarters as a powerful figure within the BJP fold who has presumably had a huge say in ticket distribution -- especially in Dharwad district.
After BJP announced its first two lists of candidates, supporters of leaders like Jagadish Shettar, Chikkanagoudar, Laxman Savadi and others who have failed to obtain the party’s nomination, have started venting their ire on Joshi. Many BJP workers in Kalghatgi and Kundagol allege that Joshi has been suppressing leaders such as Nimbannavar and Chikkanagoudar. Refuting such charges, Joshi insisted that it is the party high command that decides on all matters related to distribution of tickets and it is done in a democratic way.
“We are introducing new faces in phases. As far as Nimbannavar is concerned, he has spoken against me in anger. However, I will speak to him; I have already spoken to his son over the phone. No doubt, he is with our party,” Joshi clarified.
Regarding Shettar, who is also quite cut up with the BJP leadership for not having been granted a ticket, Joshi added that the party’s national leadership was considering Shettar’s issue seriously. “I have also expressed my opinion in favour of Shettar before [JP] Nadda [BJP national president]. It will be resolved smoothly soon,” he added.
A group of senior BJP workers defended Joshi, saying he had no role in granting or denying ticket to anyone. However, they were quick to add that many disgruntled ticket hopefuls like Shettar have claimed that internal reports were in their favour.