Mangaluru: Though MP Nalin Kumar Kateel has won twice from the Mangaluru Lok Sabha constituency, it is not going to be an easy task for him to secure ticket and win the election this time. It is not because of the growing strength of the Congress party here but due to the Bharatiya Janata Party workers projecting their own favourite leaders as the candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha election.
The BJP Backward Classes Morcha State Secretary Sathyajith Suratkal, who was an aspirant for the last Assembly election from Mangaluru North constituency, is now in the forefront in seeking ticket from the Lok Sabha constituency here. Besides that, several huge flexes have been placed at the main junctions in the city suggesting that Sathyajith Suratkal is contesting for Lok Sabha election.
The writings in the flex say that people should support Sathyajith Suratkal in order to re-elect Narendra Modi as the prime minister of India. Such flexes are being erected almost in all the junctions in the city Sathyajith’s supporters under the banner of ‘Sathyajith Suratkal Abhimani Balaga.’
A member of the Balaga on condition of anonymity, told newskarnataka.com that if their leader did not secure the ticket they would not support any other candidate and stay neutral. “If the party cannot do justice to a person who has been working for the party for three decades, why should we simply waste our valuable votes?”, he questioned.
Besides the flexes, messages have been posted on social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook among others that if the people really want to support Modi, they should elect Sathyajith only.
Sathyajith Suratkal told newskarnataka.com that he was striving hard to secure the ticket this time. “As I have been identified with Hindu outfits and working for BJP from the past 36 years, I have a right to seek the ticket. Though I intended to contest during the last Assembly election, I was denied the ticket. Hence, the party high command should identify my contribution to the party and allow me to contest this time”, he said.
However, he chose to be mum when asked about his move if the high command denied him the ticket. “I hope high command will not disappoint me this time and gives me an opportunity”, he said with confidence.
Meanwhile, another leader Capt. Brijesh Chowta, who is also working as the general secretary of the district BJP unit also has expressed his desire to secure the LS ticket. The supporters of Brijesh Chowta, under the name of ‘Brijesh Chowta Abhimani Balaga’ also have been quietly posting comments on social media indicating that he is also trying to secure the ticket to contest from Mangaluru Lok Sabha constituency.
Party is yet to finalise the candidate: Sanjeeva Matandoor
Dakshina Kannada district BJP President and MLA Sanjeeva Matandoor when contacted, clarified that the party was yet to take a decision on selecting a candidate. “Being an aspirant for contesting election is very common among every party leader. However, they would definitely support those candidates selected by the party high command”, he informed.
