Ballari: Even before he could kick- off his poll campaign in Molakalmuru assembly constituency Friday morning, Bharatiya Janata Party leader B Sriramulu was confronted with furious supporters of sitting party MLA, S Thippeswamy, who has been denied the ticket.
They threw footwear and stones , shouting “Go Back Sriramulu” and raising other slogans against him and BJP state chief, B S Yeddyurappa as he arrived by car in Nayakanahatti village to offer prayers at the Thippeswamy temple prior to the beginning of his poll campaign in the morning. The temple grounds turned into a virtual combat area for a while as the two sides clashed and the police had to do a lathicharge to disperse the angry mob and make way for Mr Sriramulu's convoy.
The BJP leader later entered the temple sanctuary in the midst of tight security, and offered puja.
Speaking to reporters after his visit to the temple, Mr Sriramulu said now that the BJP had decided to field him from Molakalmur, he had no choice in the matter. “I am not afraid of these agitations. I will contest and win. I was never against the candidature of Thippeswamy and in fact, had recommended his name to the party high command. But it was a strategic political move to select me instead,” he explained.
