Selection of Appachu Ranjan as Madikeri MLA candidate irks leaders

The rebel fever is gripping the Kodagu unit of BJP ahead of the Assembly polls.

BJP Yuva Morcha unit general secretary Deen Bopanna has expressed displeasure over the unilateral decision of the party high command to field Minister Appachu Ranjan from Madikeri. BJP leaders have not consulted district BJP leaders before finalising the candidate, he alleged.

Speaking to presspersons here recently, he said normally a candidate’s name would be announced after seeking opinion of district leaders and party workers, he said.

“We are against finalising the candidate without consulting all those who have been working for the welfare of the party for the past several years. I was also an aspirant for Madikeri. I had spoken to ex-chief minister D V Sadananda Gowda and Deputy Chief Minister K S Eshwarappa and had expressed my desire. If the BJP high command fails to respond to my wish, I will contest as a rebel,” he said.

Dist chief flayed

Coming down heavily on district BJP president B D Manjunath, Deen Bopanna said the president should not restrict himself to the interest of a few individuals. He should render his duty properly by realising his responsibility, he added.

The district president has failed to take the BJP workers into confidence. It is not fair on his part to finalise the list by taking a few of his friends to Bangalore. There is groupism within the BJP in the district, Bopanna said.

District Mahila Morcha vice-president Reeta Muthanna and others were present.