BJP’s first list triggers heartburn; role of money sighted
Bengaluru: Announcement of the first list of 72 candidates by the BJP late on Sunday for the Assembly elections triggered heartburn among disappointed ticket aspirants in different parts of the State.
BJP top leaders, who returned from New Delhi after the central election committee meeting, had to face embarrassing moments as the disappointed ticket aspirants have not only resorted to protests, but also alleged the role of money.
According to a TH report, In Bengaluru, BJP leader N.R. Ramesh, who missed ticket for Chickpet constituency, publicly alleged the role of money. He said Union Minister Ananth Kumar was responsible for businessman Uday Garudachar getting ticket from Chickpet despite losing the previous elections.
The ticket distribution issue appears to have again brought to fore allegations of leaders from Karnataka Janata Party, with which Mr. Yeddyurappa associated himself for over a year, getting priority over loyal BJP workers in some constituencies.
In Bailhongal of Belagavi district, Vishwanath Patil, who had contested the previous polls on KJP ticket, has got ticket this time while senior leader Jagadish Metgud who had contested against him as BJP nominee has missed out this time. The supporters of Mr. Metgud alleged bias towards KJP in ticket selection. They staged a protest, shouted slogans against Mr. Yeddyurappa, and beat his effigy with footwear.
In Molakalmur of Chitradurga district, sitting MLA Thippeswamy has been ignored by the party, which has given ticket to B. Sriramulu, a leader from the neighbouring Ballari district. This has upset Mr. Thippeswamy who sent out a strong message to the party top leaders by holding a meeting of his supporters to express dissatisfaction.
In Bijapur, former Minister Appu Pattanshetty, who missed party ticket, kept his supporters guessing on his next political move. But he expressed dissatisfaction over people from other parties being inducted into BJP.
However, seeking to play down the embarrassing episode, BJP State president B.S. Yeddyurappa told reporters in Bengaluru that disappointment was common soon after declaration of party ticket. He said he would hold personal consultations with disappointed ticket aspirants to assuage their feelings.
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Farmers in Chincholi demand better MSP, accuse sugar factory owners of not fulfilling assurance
Kalaburagi: Members of the Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha (KPRS) and the Taluk Raitha Hitarakshana Samiti protested outside the Siddasiri Ethanol Power Unit in Chincholi, demanding appropriate minimum support price (MSP) to sugarcane farmers in Chincholi.
Pointing out that it was decided at the meeting chaired by District In-charge Minister Priyank Kharge on November 15 to provide farmers an MSP of Rs 2,950 per tonne of sugarcane with an additional Rs 50 as support price from sugar factory owners, the protesting farmers also demanded that the decision be implemented.
“The Siddasiri sugar factory owner has violated the agreement by paying each farmer only Rs 2,550,” the farmers have alleged.
President of the KPRS Kalaburagi District Unit Sharanabasappa Mamashetti said, “When he opened the factory, legislator Basanagouda Patil Yatnal had assured that the factory would pay farmers in Kalaburagi an additional Rs 100, but has failed to live up to the word.”
The protesting farmers have demanded that the authorities concerned give priority to sugarcane farmers of Chincholi and Kalagi taluks to support the sugarcane crop. “Also, the factories should employ local youngsters and due measures should be taken to ensure the safety of the drivers of sugarcane transport vehicles,” they said.
They also handed their memorandum to Tahsildar Subbanna Jamakhandi and Power Ethanol Unit General Manager Dayananda Banagara.
The Tahsildar has assured that a meeting with the sugar factory owners would be held to discuss the issues raised by the farmers.
