Rebels give party the jitters

With just a day to file nomination papers, candidates who have been lucky to get tickets are making plans to show their strength.

However, those who have been denied of tickets are emerging disgruntled leaders, while a few of them have decided to rebel against the party’s decision. This will go down the annals of history of this year’s Assembly election.

JD(S) ticket aspirant Muni Anjappa who lost the last year’s election from Mulbagal Constituency (1,828 votes) had demanded ticket this time too. He even staged a hunger strike near former minister Alangur Srinivas’ cemetery. Later, he was shifted to a private hospital, after he complained of uneasiness. His supporters’ visit to Bangalore demanding him a ticket, is said to be successful.

It is said that JD(S) party State president H D Kumaraswamy has given in-principle approval to give ticket to Muni Anjappa.

Former legislator A Nagaraj, a Congress ticket aspirant from Malur is camping in Delhi. It is said that Union Minister K H Muniyappa is blocking his way to get ticket. His family sources said, he would be coming back after the nomination process over.
Even BJP legislator S N Krishnaiah Setty who was denied ticket from the party is contesting as an independent candidate.

In KGF

K H Muniyappa’s efforts to get Congress ticket for his daughter Roopakala have went in vain. She would be contesting as a rebel candidate, announced her supporters on Tuesday.

They alleged that the party high command has neglected the local leaders and has fielded totally a strange candidate. “Roopakala should be given ticket. Lest, she will contest as rebel candidate,” they said.

Congress has never won in Kolar Gold Fields since five decades and neglecting local leaders by the party has also led to the party’s defeat here, they said. “The party has repeated the mistake again,” they added.

In Mulbagal

Amid opposition, Legislator Amaresh submitted his nomination papers as Congress candidate from Mulbagal constituency. There was a huge protest by the local leaders, who opposed the party’s decision to give ticket to Amaresh. They even burnt the effigies of senior party leaders in front of the party office.