Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Mar 27: The simmering dissidence inside Byndoor of BJP poured into the open again. After some 'original' BJP activists expressed anger at not inviting some original BJP activists for a meeting of the party held at a hotel at Hemmady, a leader who had crossed over to BJP from elsewhere and had secured a position of importance, sought to deride them with abusive words.

This incident resulted in the dissidence against people who have recently joined the party spilling into the open. Although the differences in Byndoor unit of BJP had exploded sometime back, some loyal activists of the party had worked to find amicable solution for the differences.

A meeting had been convened at Jayashree Hall near Hotel Jewel Park, Hemmady, in view of the visit of Purushotham, personal assistant of MP, Yeddyurappa, representing Shivamogga-Byndoor constituency. Purushotham was here in connection with dispute over proposed construction of an underpass at Vandse across national highway.

Sukumar Shetty, Deepak Shetty, and Babu Shetty

Several important leaders of BJP had not been invited for the meeting. Zilla panchayat member, Babu Hegde, and taluk panchayat vice president, Praveen Kumar Shetty Kadke, raised this issue and registered their objection to this partisan attitude. Udupi district BJP president, Mattaru Ratnakar Hegde, was present. It is said that in the presence of the district BJP president, Byndoor BJP general secretary, Deepak Kumar Shetty, used abusive words and gave a dressing down to Babu Hegde and Praveen. The verbal exchanges reached such a pass that the two groups were about to come to blows. At this juncture, Deepak Kumar Shetty reportedly fled from the spot.

Those who argued that it was not right to invite only a few chosen people for the meeting, justified their stand by saying that all the party activists should have been extended an invitation. They also questioned the aggression and threats issued to people who had pointed out mistakes. In the past too it was said that when the process of admitting Jayaprakash Hegde into the BJP was on, Deepak Kumar Shetty had engaged in anti-party activities. The defiant posture owned by Shetty again in this incident has reportedly put the party leadership in a quandary.

There is demand to divest Deepak of the post of the party's general secretary. It is said that the concerned have warned that they will see that Jayaprakash Hegde is fielded from Byndoor constituency in the next election if this demand is not met.