UDUPI: BJP state general secretary and Karkala MLA Sunil Kumar has urged former Udupi MLA Raghupathi Bhat to withdraw from the MLC poll race within 24 hours, failing which, disciplinary action will be taken against him.
Bhat is contesting as an independent from the South West Graduates’ constituency in the June 3 polls.
Kumar told reporters in Udupi on Thursday that the BJP is working for the victory of both the NDA candidates— Dr Dhananjay Sarji and SL Bhojegowda. Kumar, a former minister said, adding that one should not work in such a way that would cause embarrassment to the party.
Dr Sarji said efforts were made by him to communicate with Raghupathi Bhat on this matter. “Together with MLC Arun, we visited his house. But unfortunately, we were stopped at the gates and informed that Bhat was unavailable. I tried calling him over the phone twice, but he did not answer,” he elaborated.
Notice to Raghupathi Bhat
Shivamogga: The BJP state unit has issued a notice to former Udupi MLA Raghupathi Bhat for deciding to contest the upcoming MLC polls as an independent. The notice, issued to Bhat on May 22 by the president of the BJP state disciplinary committee, Lingaraj Patil, directs the former to give a clarification before the party’s state disciplinary committee within two days.
Cong expels five rebels
KPCC working president and Rajya Sabha member GC Chandrashekhar has expelled five rebels from the party for deciding to contest the June 3 MLC polls against Congress candidates. Following the instructions from DyCM and KPCC president D K Shivakumar of Shivamogga (South West Graduates’ seat), Ferdinand Lawrence (Bengaluru Graduates’ seat), BR Nanjesh of Chikkamagaluru (South West Teachers’ seat), and Lokesh Talikatte of Chitradurga and Vinod Shivaraj of Bengaluru (South East Teachers’ seat) have been expelled.