The Hindu : Karnataka News : Asnotikar's action confuses BJP

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Thursday, Dec 30, 2010
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Asnotikar's action confuses BJP

Correspondent

He is supporting some BJP candidates and some independents also

His supporters claim that BJP cannot win any seats without him
BJP sees it as Asnotikar's ploy to keep himself relevant in the political arena

Karwar: The strange stance of Anand Asnotikar, former minister who is supporting the Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) candidates and independents in different zilla and taluk panchayat seats has confused his supporters as well as the public.

Mr. Asnotikar, who claims that his only aim was to defeat the BJP, is seen on some banners along with BJP candidates in some constituencies. He is also seen on the posters of independents in some zilla and taluk panchayat constituencies.

“Mr. Asnotikar is in a dilemma. He cannot oppose the candidates of dominant communities fielded by the BJP. Any such move would have adverse effect on his political future. At the same time, he has the political compulsion to show that he had distanced himself from the BJP which had disqualified him as an MLA. He is still hoping to rejoin the party,” said Amar Malsekar. Mr. Asnotikar's supporters refute the charge. Many of his supporters were still with the BJP. He was supporting such candidates and would get them elected. That did not mean that he was supporting the BJP. Without him, the BJP could not win a single seat in Karwar taluk, said one of his supporters. But the BJP supporters deny this. He joined the BJP just two years ago. Before that, the BJP had a presence in Karwar. It had won seats in gram panchayat as well as the Lok Sabha. Now, he had identified candidates with good potential both from the BJP and among independents and was declaring support to them. If all of them win, then he could claim credit for their victory. It was a ploy to show that he was still strong in the constituency, said a BJP office-bearer. With only two days left for the voting, it should be seen whether the “calculated risk” taken by Mr. Asnotikar by supporting the BJP and independents in different zilla and taluk panchayat constituencies would yield any political benefit to him.

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