Udupi MLAs opposed Kota as in-charge Min?

Udupi: New minister and local BJP strongman Kota Srinivas Poojary not being given the post of Udupi district in-charge minister, has annoyed many BJP leaders but sources confided that CM B.S. Yediyurappa has acted as per the pleas of BJP MLAs of the district.

Poojary, an MLC, hails from Udupi district and has been made the in-charge minister of Dakshina Kannada district while Basavaraj Bommai has been appointed  in-charge minister of Udupi district.

According to BJP leaders, about 10 days ago, the MLAs of Udupi had met Mr Yediyurappa and had asked him not to appoint Poojary as the in-charge minister of Udupi.

They are said to have given this in writing to the CM and also demanded that Basavaraj Bommai  be made the in-charge minister of Udupi.

“The BJP MLAs of Udupi are angry with Srinivas Poojary after the latter, an MLC, was made minister while  none of the MLAs were inducted into the cabinet. They feel they did not get berths because of Poojary,” a BJP office bearer told Deccan Chronicle. “They wanted to humiliate Srinivas Poojary and show that he has no support in his home district. About a week ago these MLAs also held a meeting with officials on sand mining and other issues but did not invite Poojary,” he added.

However many BJP leaders are annoyed and held a  meeting at Katapady on Tuesday. They later told reporters that not making  Poojary Udupi district minister was injustice.

“Poojary hails from Udupi and knows the district well. Home Minister Bommai already has the responsibility of maintaining law and order in the state and Udupi is also too far for him,” the leaders said.

Meanwhile,  Poojary said that he did not know about any leader plotting against him.

“I have taken charge as DK district in-charge minister as per the directions of the Chief Minister,” he told reporters.