BJP's campaign turns sour in Karwar as villagers ask why MLA was absent from campaigning team
Karwar: A recent campaign visit by BJP leaders to Bavala in Majali, Karwar taluk, turned sour when villagers asked why their local MLA, Roopali Naik, was absent from the event. Pramod Madhwaraj, former MLA from Udupi, and MLC Ganapathi Ulvekar led the campaign, accompanied by local BJP leaders, but Naik was not part of the team.
The villagers expressed their disappointment that their elected representative had not visited the village in the last five years, except for campaigning in 2018. They also expressed anger that the BJP campaign team included leaders from other districts, but not the local candidate. The villagers demanded that Naik should present herself and campaign for her own votes.
The villagers also questioned the effectiveness of the BJP leaders' campaign work, as no developmental work had been undertaken in the village.
Despite Ulvekar's efforts to pacify the villagers, they refused to attend the BJP convention and listened to the speeches from outside the venue. Congress candidate and former MLA Sathish Sail, who was also campaigning in Majali, referred to the incident in his campaign speech, mocking the BJP for failing to fulfill their duties towards the locals.
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Annamalai questions Naxals surrender policy in Karnataka
Udupi (Karnataka), Jan 11: Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai has raised concerns over the Naxal surrender and rehabilitation policy in Karnataka, questioning its effectiveness and transparency.
Annamalai, who had served as Superintendent of Police (SP) in Udupi between January 2015 and August 2016 and as SP Chikkamagaluru, considered a hotbed of Naxals in Karnataka, in 2018, had convened a press conference in Udupi on Saturday.
According to him, while the policy aims to reintegrate former Naxals into mainstream society, doubts persist regarding its implementation.
He pointed out that surrender and encounter cases have sparked widespread speculation, with many questioning the circumstances under which these events unfolded.
"The recent Naxals surrenders, under the leadership of the Chief Minister, raise several questions. The process, which involves surrenders in the presence of the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police, appears to have been made too easy for Naxals," he said.
Annamalai also questioned the credibility of the surrender process, stating that the government's approach could create doubts about the policy's integrity. He cited the case of Vikram Gowda's encounter, which has triggered concerns among locals.
"There are reports that the Chief Minister himself was involved in the surrender process, and weapons were displayed in a remote forested location. The public is finding it difficult to believe this narrative," he added.
The remarks come amid growing debates on the handling of Naxal issues in Karnataka, with political leaders and activists weighing in on the government's approach to surrender.
Annamalai was in Udupi to launch "Samvidhana Badalayisisddu Yaaru?" (Who changed the Constitution?), authored by Vikas Kumar P, at an event organised by the Citizens for Social Justice today.
Taking to 'X' post the event, Annamalai wrote, "This book highlights the numerous amendments made during the Congress regime, which sought to undermine our citizens' fundamental rights, civic liberties, and even the very meaning of the Preamble."
He had also posted on X that he met today and received blessings from the current Paryaya Swami, His Holiness Sri Sri Sri Sugunendra Theerth Swamiji, of Jagadguru Sri Madhwaachaarya Moola Mahaa Samsthaanam, Shri Puthige Matha, Udupi.
