Not bitter for being denied RS poll ticket: Vijay Sankeshwara

BJP leader and industrialist Vijay Sankeshwara said in Hubballi on Tuesday, that he was not disappointed because he was denied a ticket to contest the Rajya Sabha elections. He stressed that he had no bitterness either.  

Conversing with reporters at a media meet he summoned, he said that entrepreneur and BJP MP Rajeev Chandrashekar was younger than him and 'well-read'. "It is right to give him a ticket. This gladdens me," Sankeshwara added.      

On March 23, elections for Rajya Sabha seats will be held due to the retirement of MPs.

Independent MP  Rajeev Chandrashekar's and Vijay Sankeshwara's names were being bandied about in political circles as aspirants for the BJP ticket. Finally, BJP gave the ticket to Rajeev Chandrashekar.  

Not Kannadiga; no matter

The Kannadiga-Not a Kannadiga argument does not matter in Rajya Sabha, Sankeshwara said. Rajeev Chandrashekar studied in Mangaluru. He is a Kannadiga too. His father was a prominent BJP-Janasangh activist, he added.  

"I have wedded the BJP. If the party asks me to take poison, I will do it. Rumours are being spread about me being bitter for not getting a ticket. So I have called this press conference to clarify my stand," Sankeshwara explained.    

Given chance, will contest

"I have no misgivings about any issue. I had not even submitted a request for the RS ticket. The BJP has made no assurances to me that I will get an MLA or MP polls ticket in future. " But if given an opportunity, yes I will contest polls, " Sankeshwara revealed.  

Sankeshwara said that he is not the kind to indulge in caste politics and the separate religion tag for Lingayats is unreasonable.  

"Lingayats should not go begging for reservation. This fight is completely politically motivated. Whose reservation quota will Siddaramaiah reduce to give reservation to Lingayats? The CM has to clarify that point first," Sankeshwara added.