Bengaluru: Union Minister Anant Kumar Hegade, who had earlier caused embarrassment to the central government with his ‘change the constitution’ remark was out for a rude shock when BJP State Chief BS Yeddyurappa reportedly made him get off the stage and sit in the audience at a meeting held in Delhi.
The incident took place during the BJP National Executive Meet in New Delhi on Sunday.
It is said that at the event, seats were allotted on the stage for the union ministers alongside the BJP national chief, state chief and state in-charge as the discussion on facing parliamentary polls in Karnataka was being held. However, as per sources, when Hegade came to occupy his seat, BSY signalled him to go and sit in the audience. Hegade is said to have obliged and went on to occupy a seat in the second row in the audience. It is said that BJP leader Prahlad Joshi was made to sit on the dais instead of Hegade.
Once considered to be the blue-eyed boy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Hegade’s firebrand image was becoming a cause of concern to the central government as he repeatedly kept making controversial statements. Many say that with the parliamentary polls fast approaching, the BJP wants to play safe by not letting any of its members speak anything that can go against the party.