The Hindu : Karnataka News : `Repentant' BJP dares Bangarappa for debate

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 20, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka

`Repentant' BJP dares Bangarappa for debate

Special Correspondent

BJP regrets fielding Bangarappa in the last Lok Sabha election

SHIMOGA: The BJP National General Secretary and MP, H.N. Ananth Kumar, on Thursday dared S. Bangarappa, former Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party candidate in the Lok Sabha byelection from Shimoga, for a public debate to justify his resignation from the BJP and the Lok Sabha.

At a press conference here, Mr. Ananth Kumar said with his penchant for party hopping, Mr. Bangarappa introduced in the State the culture of "aaya ram gayaa ram", which was seen only in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. The BJP leader described Mr. Bangarappa's decision to quit the BJP and join the Samajawadi Party as "opportunistic migration". He contested the last four Lok Sabha elections on different political labels. This spoke of his political opportunism, Mr. Ananth Kumar said.

Defection

He denied the charge that his party encouraged defection by allowing Mr. Bangarappa to join the BJP and contest as its candidate in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections. He said it was part of political polarisation. The BJP encouraged it only to help the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to come back to power at the Centre. He said the BJP is repenting for having admitted Mr. Bangarappa.

Mr. Ananth Kumar said along with Mr. Bangarappa, prominent leaders such as Ramesh Jigajinigi joined the BJP at that time. He said the Samajawadi Party, which does not swear by socialist leaders such as Shanataveri Gopalagowda, has no relevance.

The BJP leader said his was the only party, which was united, to take on the Congress and the Samajawadi Party confidently. If the former was a "divided house" the latter was a "divided family", he added.

He said voters in Shimoga will not support those engaged in opportunistic politics.

The days of the coalition Government in the State are numbered with the cracks between the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) developing into wide gaps. He predicted that the byelection will be without any wave.

His party has evolved a new strategy to woo voters by visiting 2.5 lakh houses in the constituency.

Act of repentance

The Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, B.S. Yediyurappa, said the Janata Dal (Secular) had fielded its candidate in the Lok Sabha byelection only to help Mr. Bangarappa. During his campaign he saw good response to his party candidate, M.B. Bhanu Prakash. "Shimoga is our constituency and we will not allow it to be won by any other candidate.

It is true we committed a mistake last time by admitting Mr. Bangarappa. As repentance for this, we have fielded Mr. Bhanu Prakash this time," he said.

Mr. Yediyurappa reiterated his demand for an inquiry by a judge of the Supreme Court into the multicrore "land-grab". He ridiculed the assertion by the former Prime Minister, H.D. Deve Gowda, that he will take the matter to the President and the Chief Justice of India.

He dared Mr. Bangarappa to ask the two MLAs, Hartalu Halappa and Beluru Gopalakrishna, to resign from the BJP if he has any respect for the democratic values as these MLAs are working for the Samajawadi Party without resigning from the BJP.

Mr. Bhanu Prakash and the Shimoga MLA, K.S. Eshwarappa, were present.

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