Kalaburagi: Senior BJP leader, K B Shanappa, who has been unhappy with recent developments in the party, including its decision to field Chincholi MLA, Dr Umesh Jadhav from Kalaburagi this Lok Sabha poll, resigned from the primary membership of the party on Saturday.
Backing him, former chairman of the Gulbarga Development Authority, Shyamrao Pyati too gave in his resignation from the primary membership of BJP Later, speaking to reporters here, Mr Shanappa clarified that he would not join the Congress.
“But I am a political animal and will not be quiet, especially when the community is oppressed. If I cannot fight for justice, I should not be here," he said.
While he maintained he was not keen on contesting from Kalaburagi himself, Mr Shanappa said he felt humiliated that Dr Jadhav, who was a rank outsider to the party (being from the Congress), had been foisted on it as the candidate from the constituency. "There are many leaders in the district unit of the BJP, who could have been fielded instead. Moreover, nobody thought it necessary to seek our opinion. This is too much, I cannot tolerate this. State BJP president, B S Yeddyurappa is responsible. I don't know why he has always been against me," Mr Shanappa fumed.
He also questioned the BJP's plan to humble veteran Congress leader, Mallikarjun Kharge this election. "Should we work to defeat the Congress or an individual like Mr Kharge? Our aim should be to defeat the policies of a party and not an individual," he observed.
Mr Shanappa, who began his political career in the Communist party, was first elected legislator in 1983 from the Shahabad reserved constituency. He later joined the Janata Dal and was appointed minister for excise in the J H Patel government.
After the Janata Dal's split, he and leaders like Ramesh Jigajinagi and Govind Karajol joined the BJP, which nominated him to the Rajya Sabha in 2006.
He was later nominated to the state Legislative Council in 2012 before his retirement in 2018.
