'BJP saviour' feels rebel heat in Kodagu

Many oppose candidature of Bopaiah, Appachu Ranjan

With the dissidents in the district BJP unit, K G Bopaiah who is known as a ‘saviour’ of the BJP-led state government in the state has started feeling the heat in his home town.

The dissidence in the BJP in Kodagu has become a headache to the party high command. As a result, the party has not taken a final decision to name its candidates to contest from two Assembly constituencies in the district.

Though Bopaiah had shown keen interest to contest from Virajpet constituency, the party workers in the constituency have opposed it.

The BJP unit in the district has been witnessing groupism in the district for the last six to eight months. Those who have been opposing Bopaiah have been organising separate meetings and taking independent decisions. Bopaiah is a resident of Madikeri. He was elected in 2004 from Madikeri constituency. After the delimitation of constituencies in 2008, Somwarpet constituency was merged with Madikeri. When M P Appacchu Ranjan selected Madikeri constituency to contest, Bopaiah showed his inclination to contest from Virajpet.

However, district BJP unit former president and an aspirant M Ravindra, an influential person from Kodava community in Virajpet taluk has been impressing upon the party High Command to field him from Virajpet.

Bopaiah belongs to Are Gowda/Vokkaliga community. The number of voters hailing from Vokkaliga or Gowda community is less in Kodagu. The number of voters hailing from Kodava is more. There are rumours that if Ravindra was not given ticket, then he will contest as a rebel candidate.

On the other hand, M P Appachu Ranjan was elected as a MLA in 1994, 1999 and 2008. However, Zilla Panchayat former president Shantheyanda Ravi Kushalappa is also seeking ticket to contest from Madikeri constituency.

Jilla Yuva Morcha general secretary Deen Bopanna had expressed displeasure over not consulting the workers before finalising the name of candidate for Madikeri constituency. With groupism and dissidence in the BJP, fielding a winning candidate has become a headache in Kodagu.