After Soapgate, voices against giving poll ticket to MLA Madal grow in BJP

Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT

Bengaluru: There is a growing feeling among state BJP leaders not to give the ticket for the coming Assembly polls to Chennagiri BJP MLA Madal Virupakshappa who is in neck-deep trouble after his son was arrested by the Lokayukta with cash of around Rs 8 crore last week.

The MLA has gone missing and a lookout notice has been served on him. This incident has shamed saffron party leaders who often quote Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s favourite dialogue, ‘Naa Khavoonga, Naa khane Doonga’. The MLA was not even available for questioning by the Lokayukta.

Sources say fingers are being pointed at Davangere MP and BJP leader G.M. Siddeshwar for giving information to the Lokayukta about the alleged corruption of the Channagiri MLA and his son. A ticket for Madal would send out a wrong signal about the BJP’s claim of ‘zero tolerance’ for corruption. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is said to be upset with Madal’s alleged corrupt practices.

Senior party leaders opined that Madal must not be given a ticket till he comes out of clean while another section opine that denying a ticket is like allowing the opposition to celebrate for bringing down ‘three wickets’. They cite the cases of Ramesh Jarkiholi and K.S.Eshwarappa who were forced to resign on serious charges but later received a clean chit.