Yediyurappa's rally cancelled after group of partymen hold protest against sitting MLA
Mudigere, Mar 16: The BJP had to cancel its rally and roadshow that was to be attended by party strong man and former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa here on Thursday, following a protest by a group of partymen urging the leadership not to give ticket to sitting MLA M P Kumaraswamy from the segment in the upcoming Assembly elections.
The developments forced the veteran leader, who is also the party's Parliamentary Board member, and other leaders including its national general secretary C T Ravi, and MLC M K Pranesh to abandon the event, which was organised as part of the BJP's ongoing 'Vijaya Sankalpa Yatre', and go back.
As Yediyurappa was on his way to take part in the road show, a group of party men surrounded his car and raised slogans against Kumaraswamy and wanted the senior leader to hear their appeal; following this, another group of workers gathered at the spot shouting slogans in favour of the MLA.
The group opposing the MLA had reportedly even planned to submit a memorandum to Yediyurappa, expressing their opposition to Kumaraswamy being given the ticket.
Repeated attempts by Ravi and other BJP leaders to pacify both sides, with an appeal to allow them to carry on with the roadshow and rally, were not successful.
Yediyurappa, who was said to be upset with the behaviour of the workers, did not get out of his car, party sources said.
They said, he instead cancelled the roadshow and rally, and travelled to Chikkamagaluru.
Later speaking to reporters, Kumaraswamy turned emotional stating that he was pained that a senior leader like Yediyurappa was not allowed to take part in the rally in Mudigere, to organise where lakhs of rupees were spent.
Stating that Yediyurappa has instilled confidence in him and has asked him to work for the party and people, he hit out at those protesting against him, and said, "I'm being targeted as I come from SC community."
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EC not acting in non-partisan manner: Vijayan on PM remarks regarding Muslims
Kannur (Kerala) (PTI): Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday said that it was "unfortunate" that the Election Commission (EC) was not acting in a non-partisan manner by taking immediate action in connection with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent alleged remarks against Muslims.
Vijayan contended it was a situation where the EC ought to have acted immediately, but till now it has been silent on the issue.
"It is unfortunate. The EC should have shown it was non-partisan. It should have acted immediately," the Marxist veteran said at a press meet here.
Vijayan said that this is an issue which would have to be raised before the Supreme Court.
At the same time, he claimed that because of such statements by the PM, the anti-BJP sentiment in the nation is strengthening and the saffron party will be isolated even further.
Modi, during a poll rally in Rajasthan's Banswara on Sunday, said that if the Congress comes to power, it would redistribute people's wealth to Muslims.
He also alleged that the Congress plans to give people's hard-earned money and valuables to "infiltrators" and "those who have more children."
Criticising the statement, Vijayan had a day ago accused the prime minister of carrying out a communal campaign by fabricating imaginary stories to create anti-Muslim hatred among people.
