- By Vivek Raj
- Mon, 25 Mar 2024 03:03 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has denied a poll pass to Anantkumar Hegde, a six-time Member of Parliament from Karnataka, following his recent controversial remarks regarding the BJP's target of winning 400 Lok Sabha seats. Hegde's remarks, which sparked a political controversy, led to the party's decision to replace him with Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri, a six-time MLA and former Speaker of the Karnataka Assembly.
Anantkumar Hegde, who represented the Uttara Kannada Lok Sabha seat for six consecutive terms over the past 28 years, faced backlash after suggesting that the BJP's aim to secure 400 Lok Sabha seats was intended to alter the Constitution. He accused the Congress of distorting the Constitution to oppress Hindus and called for its rewriting.
"If the Constitution has to be amended -- the Congress fundamentally distorted the Constitution by forcefully filling unnecessary things in it, especially by bringing in laws that were aimed at suppressing the Hindu society -- if all of this has to be changed, it is not possible with this (current) majority," Hegde had said at the gathering.
As the Opposition started targeting the party for ‘changing the constitution’ motives, the Saffron party distanced itself from Hegde's remarks, stating that they were his ‘personal views’. However, the party's decision to deny him a poll pass signaled its intolerance towards leaders making controversial statements that embarrass the leadership. Despite Hegde's efforts to lobby for his candidacy, the decision had already been made.
The replacement of Anantkumar Hegde with Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri reflects a clear pattern in the BJP's candidate selection process, where leaders known for hate speeches and controversial remarks are not endorsed. This move aligns with the party's strategy to maintain a positive and inclusive image ahead of the elections.
Anantkumar Hegde's exclusion from the BJP's candidate list adds to a series of similar instances where leaders like Pragya Singh Thakur, Ramesh Bidhuri, and Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma were denied poll passes despite being sitting MPs.
The BJP's stance underscores its commitment to ensuring that its representatives uphold the party's principles and refrain from making divisive statements.