—-S. A. Hemanth ——-
Belagavi, Dec 24: The demand for reservation by Panchamsalis and Vokkaligas has resulted in war of words between three BJP leaders – Basanagouda Patil, Dr K. Sudhakar and R. Ashok.
In response to the demand of the Vokkaligas for reservation, Basanagouda Patil took on Ashok and said, “Let Ashok ensure 50 MLAs from Old-Mysore region. Then reservation can be given” Ashok, on the other hand, asserted that there are poor among the Vokkaligas also and hence their demand for reservation is justified.
But it was Sudhakar who was vocal and strident against Basanagouda Patil. Dr Sudhakar said reservation is given not on the basis of how many seats one can get.
“This is elementary common sense. I am surprised that Basanagouda Patil, who has functioned in the Union Ministry, is not aware of this common knowledge,” the health minister added.
Sudhakar went on to say, “There are poor even among the Vokkaligas. We live depending on land and rain. We are the victims of the vagaries of nature. We are demanding reservation only to the poor among the Vokkaligas”
This war of words among the leaders of two powerful communities has become a fresh headache to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai as well as to the party.
BJP sources told The News Peg that state President Nalin Kateel is likely to issue directions to the party leaders and MLAs not to speak out-of-turn and not to work at cross-purposes on the sensitive issue of reservation.
#NJP MLA #BASAVANAGOWDAPATILYETHNAL #RASHOK #DRKSUDHAKAR #NALEENKUMARKATEEL
