Umesh Marpalli

Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Oct 9: The information being circulated by social media over the last some days claimed that former minister and influential Congress leader from coastal Karnataka, Pramod Madhwaraj, would cross over to BJP and fight Lok Sabha election as a BJP candidate. This matter had kicked up a hot debate, with several supporting Madhwaraj on the issue and others criticising him.

It is public knowledge that during the recent assembly election, it was claimed that Pramod would join the BJP and as per some sources, he too had revealed to some media persons that he was on the threshold of joining BJP. However, he had to retract his steps as some veteran BJP leaders did not like the idea of admitting him into the party.

People are not prepared to dismiss the information as mere rumour, going by Madhwaraj's body language during recent months. He had dithered from making adverse statements about Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. He also reportedly advised leaders close to him in his party not to hold any protests against Modi. Even when the party overlooked his advice and held protests, he stayed away from them.

Congress faced utter defeat in all the five assembly constituencies in the district during the recent assembly poll. Congress workers and leaders opine that decisions taken by Pramod and his behaviour in the public were prominent reasons for this loss of face. Madhwaraj was not seen even in the recent Bharat Bandh observed by the Congress in protest against hike in prices of petroleum products. When the party workers were recently caned by the policemen, which they feel was high-handedness on the part of the police, Pramod did not come forward in support of the workers. This has given rise to a grouse among Congress cadres against him. When all the district level Congress leaders participated in the protest against the Rafael deal, Pramod was conspicuous by his absence. He had claimed that he was unwell. This too had put his party workers in a quandary.

The information being circulated through WhatsApp groups about his joining BJP also has evoked strong response from some leaders and workers. While some said Pramod being a sincere worker of the party will not desert it, others mentioned about his mother having crossed over to BJP after being in Congress for long. Reportedly, some zilla panchayat members and municipal councillors too welcomed his decision to leave the party.

Even if he decides to join the BJP, it is not easy, considering that there are several former Congress leaders in the BJP who aspire to fight the coming Lok Sabha election. Moreover, most of the party leaders including MLA, Raghupati Bhat, are opposed to his admission into the BJP.

Madhwaraj clarifies

Pramod Madhwaraj, in his response to the media on the subject, said that the information being published by some social sites and publications about he having decided to join the BJP are far from truth. He dismissed them as mere figments of imagination. "Even in the past such rumours had made the rounds. The rumours have surfaced again now. I want to confirm that I will remain with the Congress," he asserted.