Mangalore: Dramatic move by BJP: Nalin Kateel to lose Lok Sabha ticket?

Shreyas H S
For Daijiworld.com

Mangalore, Feb 25: Sitting MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, who was nominated as the BJP candidate for Mangalore Lok Sabha seat in the list recently released by the party, is in all likelihood set to lose the ticket, after some of the BJP members reportedly expressed discontent over his nomination, and more importantly, after the RSS intervened, said highly placed sources.

Despite the fact that Nalin Kumar Kateel was publicly hailed as the BJP candidate in the recent Narendra Modi rally in the city amidst swelling crowds, the party is likely to field another candidate of the same community in Kateel's place, sources close to RSS told daijiworld.

There was a general opinion within the party earlier that there were no contenders to other than Nalin Kumar in the BJP, and the ticket would be issued to the sitting MP. As supporting evidence, Kateel who shared the dais on February 18 with Modi was referred to as the BJP candidate. It was said in the rally that Nalin Kumar was getting ready to contest yet again in the district.

However, in a sudden and unexpected move, the party think tank on Monday February 24 reconsidered the decision, and reportedly agreed to issue the ticket to another BJP member from the same community.

However, sources said that drama over the ticket within the party has gone through many twists and turns, and it isn't over yet. A few senior BJP members are said to be jostling for the coveted ticket, and it is also said that most of the party cadres are unhappy over Kateel's performance and the fact that he sidelined them after coming to power in the district.

There is also high influence of local RSS leaders which reportedly compelled the party to change its decision, sources said.

The party, however, has not announced its decision officially yet, and though a few names are doing the rounds, there is no confirmation so far on who would be replacing Nalin Kumar Kateel.