Lingaraj Patil quits as Karnataka BJP discipline panel chief over not getting ticket for MLC polls

Hubballi: A day after the BJP announced sitting MLC S V Sankanur as its candidate for the Legislative Council elections from the West Graduates' constituency, Lingaraj Patil, a major aspirant for the ticket resigned from the post of the State BJP discipline committee chief on Wednesday.

"I am a loyal worker of the BJP, and I will never betray the party. Over 15 aspirants were against giving the ticket to two-time MLC Sankanur. I have worked for the party for 37 years. I had missed the ticket in three MLC polls and one Rajya Sabha election at the last moment earlier, but I worked honestly for the party," he said.

Patil, who has forwarded his resignation letter to State BJP president B Y Vijayendra, stated that he would make a decision on his next move if the candidate is not changed in eight days.

"Sankanur had said in the last elections that he would not seek a ticket again. He had earlier contested against us before joining BJP. I don't know why I am not being given a chance. It seems the party is not in need of loyal workers like me," an emotional Patil added.

Congress has already announced former MLC Mohan Limbikai, who was earlier with BJP, as its candidate.

Sankanur is the MLC from this segment covering Dharwad, Haveri, Gadag and Uttara Kannada districts, since 2014. His term will end in November this year.