Date:16/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/16/stories/2008041655170800.htm

Karnataka

Mahadev gets a taste of his own medicine

Muralidhara Khajane

MYSORE: The former Minister M. Mahadev, who left the Congress and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) recently accusing Congress leaders of neglecting “natives and loyalists” of the party, is now in a piquant situation.

The “natives and loyalists” card that he played in the Congress has boomeranged on him in the BJP after the party asked him to contest from Chamarajanagar Assembly segment.

Branding him as a “migrant”, BJP leaders of Chamarajanagar district are now accusing BJP State leaders of ignoring the local candidates. Opposing the party’s decision to field Mr. Mahadev from Chamarajanagar, a section of the BJP held a demonstration in front of the office of the BJP in Chamarajanagar on Monday.

They have urged the party to give the ticket to anybody, who served for the growth of the party in the district.

One of the party leaders alleged that Mr. Mahadev had not visited the party office even for courtesy sake after joining the party. “How will such a person organise the party in the district,” he wanted to know.

Protesters, including taluk president Guruswamy, vice-president Raitha Morcha Nagesh and president of women’s wing Parvathamma clarified that they were not opposing Mr. Mahadev as a person, but they were against fielding him in Chamarajanagar.

They warned the State leaders that the protest would get intensified if their demand was not met.

“Mr. Mahadev left the Congress because the party neglected natives and loyalists who helped the party’s growth. What right does has have to commit a similar blunder?”, asked a frustrated BJP leader.

At the same time, four BJP aspirants have supported Mr. Mahadev.

The ticket aspirants K.S. Nagarajappa, Ganesh Dixit, raitha morcha president Mahadevappa and Nijaguna Raju have said in a press statement that their leader B.S. Yeddyurappa informed them that the party decided to nominate Mr. Mahadev for Chamarajanagar and abiding by party’s ideals and discipline, they decided to support him.