BJP MLC Ayanur Manjunath has announced that he will soon resign as MLC in a few days ahead of the upcoming polls in Shivamogga. He has accused BJP MLA K.S Eshwarappa of promoting communal politics in order to win the polls – going against the ideals of the BJP. Manjunath has stated that the chances of the BJP fielding him from the Shivamogga segment seem slim and he has decided to quit the BJP and prepare for the upcoming polls. There is speculation that he will join the Congres, as a prominent Lingayat leader in the region, facing off against the BJP. Manjunath has put the accusations of corruption and communalism against Eshwarappa and claims to have a clean track record.
The BJP is a right-wing political party in India and is one of the two major political parties in the country, the other being the Indian National Congress. Founded in 1980 and led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP’s ideology is based on conservatism, Hindu nationalism and social conservatism. The BJP has traditionally contested the polls on the plank of development and national security. Manjunath’s resignation will come as a shock to the party, who was elected MLC in 2017 representing South West Graduates’ constituency in the Legislative Council and whose term will end in 14 months.
Ayanur Manjunath is 67 year old and a prominent Lingayat leader in the region. He is a former mayor of Mysuru and a three-time MLC. Manjunath has been an active member of the BJP for the past three decades and known for his clean track record and his stance on communal issues. With his decision to quit the BJP and the speculation that he will join the Congress, it remains to be seen how the developments will shape the polls.
