Hubballi: Upset over denial of the ticket for the Chikkodi seat, BJP leader Ramesh Katti and his brother Umesh Katti have convened a meeting of their supporters in Hukkeri on Monday to decide their future course of action.
Ramesh is expected to take a decision on joining the Congress which is reportedly planning to field him from Chikkodi by allowing present MP Prakash Hukkeri to contest from Belagavi constituency. Meanwhile, BJP leaders are making all efforts to pacify the disgruntled brothers.
Ramesh Katti had won the Lok Sabha election in 2009 from Chikkodi and lost to Prakash Hukkeri in 2014. He had lobbied with the party high command for the party ticket with the help of his brother but Nippani legislator Shishikala Jolle’s husband Annasaheb Jolle managed to get the BJP ticket at the last moment. The Katti brothers did not relent despite Jolle visiting their home and seeking support.
“We are confident that the Katti brothers will not go against the decision of the party high command and will support us to ensure the victory of my husband in Chikkodi. They will also take part in the BJP election campaign to defeat Prakash Hukkeri”, said MLA Shashikala Jolle.
Meanwhile, Prakash Hukkeri has expressed confidence that he will win the election again by a margin of more than one lakh votes. He claimed he has undertaken a lot of development work in Chikkodi parliamentary constituency during the last five years.
