Karnataka - Bidar   

New BJP entrant takes workers, leaders by surprise

BIDAR: The entry of Subhash Thippanna Nelge, an industrialist, into the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has taken party workers and former party MLAs by surprise. Mr. Nelge joined the BJP on January 3 at a function attended by Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa. Mr. Nelge is based in Pune, Maharashtra, but belongs to Halsitungaon of Bhalki taluk.

The leaders are worried that Mr. Nelge may be a strong contender for claiming party ticket to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Bidar Parliamentary Constituency. Mr. Nelge has joined the party at a time when the former MLAs are fighting it out for party ticket.

It may be noted here that Bidar constituency was made a General seat following the delimitation exercise. Earlier, the seat was reserved for Scheduled Caste.

According to a senior leader of the party, leaders, including the district unit president of the party Baburao Madkatti, made Mr. Nelge join the party in a hurry. The senior leader said that some of the party members were trying to prepare the ground for Mr. Nelge. A mass marriage would be held on February 1 as the first step towards projecting Mr. Nelge. Speaking to The Hindu on Sunday, a former BJP MLA of the district said that he had no knowledge that Mr. Nelge would be joining the party. Mr. Madkatti said,“It is up to the high command to decide whether to issue ticket to Mr. Nelge to contest the Lok Sabha elections.” Mr. Nelge told The Hindu that he had joined BJP to strengthen it in the district.

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New BJP entrant takes workers, leaders by surprise

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