Ananthkumar Hegde loses BJP ticket from Uttara Kannada, Vishweshwar Kageri to contest for saffron party

Karwar: 25 March 2024 (Bhatkallys News Bureau) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has made a shocking decision in the Uttar Kannada constituency by denying ticket to six-time Member of Parliament Anantkumar Hegde for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. In his place, former Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, Kageri Vishweshwar Hegde, has been named as the party's candidate for the constituency.

Anantkumar Hegde, a prominent Hindutva figure in the constituency, had previously contested seven consecutive times and emerged victorious in six of those elections. However, his absence from the political scene following the previous Lok Sabha polls raised eyebrows, only to resurface two months ago. 

His return was marked by a series of controversial and communally provocative statements, including a remark suggesting his party's intention to amend the Constitution by securing 400 seats, which stirred controversy at the national level. Notably, he was conspicuously absent from all election campaigns during the last Lok Sabha polls, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi's public rally in Ankola.

In his place, Kageri Vishweshwar Hegde, who has also enjoyed a distinguished political career, has been entrusted with the party's ticket. Kageri, who hails from a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) background, boasts six successful terms as a member of the Vidhan Sabha, with only one defeat in the previous polls. 

His extensive political experience, with his RSS connection since 1999, positions him as a formidable candidate for the BJP in Lok Sabha elections. Initially, there were speculations regarding other potential candidates such as Chakravarti Soolibele and journalist Hariprakash Konemane. However, the BJP's high command put an end to all speculations by ultimately selecting Kageri for the ticket, marking his debut in the Lok Sabha elections.