BJP workers want ticket for a candidate other than Basavaraj Mattimud in Kalaburagi Rural segment

Opposition within the BJP to the candidature of Kalaburagi Rural Assembly Constituency MLA Basavaraj Mattimud grew on Sunday when workers of the Kalaburagi Rural unit urged the party high command to give ticket to a candidate other than Mr. Mattimud.

Opposition within the BJP to the candidature of Kalaburagi Rural Assembly Constituency MLA Basavaraj Mattimud grew on Sunday when workers of the Kalaburagi Rural unit urged the party high command to give ticket to a candidate other than Mr. Mattimud.

District convener of BJP Unorganised Labour Cell Veeru Swamy Narona and district secretary of BJP Yuva Morcha Shashidhar Maka, addressing a press conference in Kalaburagi on Sunday, criticised Mr. Mattimud for failing to undertake development works in the constituency.

They accused him of ignoring the party workers in the constituency.

Mr. Narona said that if the BJP wants to retain the Kalaburagi Rural seat, ticket should not be given to the sitting MLA.

Mr. Narona also said that the legislator is involved in cricket betting. In November 2020, Maharashtra Police raided the residence of Mr. Mattimud in Kalaburagi and busted an IPL cricket betting racket while recovering ₹38 lakh in cash and a car belonging to his wife.

Many youths in the constituency have lost their property and destroyed their lives due to cricket betting, he added.

He said that the legislator also used influence to get an RSS worker Pradeep Bhalki banished from the district. He said that Mr. Mattimud also got false cases registered against 28 BJP workers projecting them as rowdy-sheeters.