Kalaburagi: Accusing state BJP chief B.S. Yeddyurappa of selling the BJP ticket for Kalaburagi Rural to a cricket bookie, former Minister, Revu Naik Belamagi announced on Saturday that he would quit the saffron party and contest the coming assembly poll as a rebel.
A four-time MLA from the erstwhile Kamalapur reserved constituency, that is now part of Kalaburagi Rural, Mr Belamagi on Saturday had a discussion with his supporters about his future course of action after being denied the ticket.
Speaking to reporters later, he said he intended to quit the Bharatiya Janata Party and contest the elections on the Janata Dal (Secular) symbol or as an independent.
Alleging that Mr Yeddyurappa, was punishing him for refusing to join his Karnataka Janata Party (KJP), when he launched it after leaving the Bharatiya Janata Party, he said, “Mr Yeddyurappa expected me to walk out of the BJP with him and join the KJP. But as I didn’t he has taken his revenge by denying me the ticket. I fell at his feet to seek his pardon and give me a last chance to contest for the Assembly,but he did not relent.” The MLA regretted that when his candidature was cleared by the Central Parliamentary Board and all surveys showed he was a winnable candidate, the Bgharatiya Janata Party had decided to field a cricket bookie, Basavaraj Mattimud from Kalaburagi rural.
“I built the party in the district and got elected four times without a break. What are the contributions of Mattimud to the party?. He was a follower of Mallikarjun Kharge and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party the previous election,” he said, alleging that Mr Matimud had paid between Rs 15 and Rs 20 crore for the ticket.
