BJP leaders hold meetings against candidature of Jagadish Shettar from Belagavi

Senior BJP leaders held two emergency meetings in Belagavi on Friday, following reports that the high command may replace MP Mangala Angadi with Jagadish Shettar, former CM.

Senior BJP leaders held two emergency meetings in Belagavi on Friday, following reports that the high command may replace MP Mangala Angadi with Jagadish Shettar, former CM.

A meeting was held in a private office while the second was held at the residence of Prabhakar Kore, former Rajya Sabha member.

Iranna Kadadi, Rajya Sabha member, Abhay Patil, MLA, former MLAs Anil Benake and Vishwanath Patil, M.B. Zirli, and some district unit office-bearers like Virupaksha Mamani, were present. Members of the Jarkiholi family and Angadi family did not attend.

Though the participants denied that there was any opposition to the idea, it is believed that they strongly opposed the idea of fielding outsiders.

There are strong rumours that the party will field Mr. Shettar from Belagavi. One MP seat was promised to him when he returned from the Congress. He was insisting on Dharwad, but party leaders told him that the constituency would be decided later.

The names of Ramesh Katti, former MP from Chikkodi, and former Minister Murugesh Nirani are also afloat. Ramesh Katti was keen on Chikkodi. But the party decided to continue the candidature of MP Anna Saheb Jolle.

Another reason for the meeting, sources say, is a call by a Central observer to a Member of Parliament asking them to prepare to accept Mr. Shettar’s candidature.