Daijiworld Media Network - Kaup (SP)

Kaup, Apr 23: "I have entered political field with the aim of strengthening BJP, which runs on the principle that a party is more important than individuals and country stands supreme when compared to a party. I have not betrayed or cheated anyone in my life. But now I have faced injustice and feel betrayed. I am not alone in going through this pain, as this has hurt my party workers, fans, and supporters alike. Still, at any cost, I will not leave the party," said BJP leader, Suresh Shetty Gurme.

Shetty was addressing his fans, BJP leaders, people's representatives and leaders of institutions and organizations, who had assembled in front of his house at Kalathur Gurme on Sunday April 22 evening on his return home after having been denied BJP ticket from Kaup constituency at the last minute.

"I am disappointed at not having been picked by the party as its candidate for Kaup. I lost in the race for ticket because of certain individuals, but not the party. Leaders of the party have assured to discuss the issue with me. I am ever grateful to all of you who came in support of me. I have immense faith in God, and therefore I also have a feeling that ticket to me would have been denied as per the God's will, who perhaps wants me to guide me through a better course in life," he stated. He said that at present, he believes in the policy of waiting and watching.

Suresh Shetty Gurme has been very active since the last four years as a BJP worker, office bearer, and district level leader. He has a huge following not only in Kaup assembly constituency but also in several other constituencies. He had actively infused a sense of rejuvenation in the party during the previous Lok Sabha, gram panchayat, taluk panchayat adn zilla panchayat elections and had led from the front and emerged as the centre of solid strength for the party. He used to directly get involved with the problems of party workers. The fact that BJP decided at the last moment to choose some other candidate to represent the party in Kaup constituency came as a shock and disappointment for Gurme's fans. A few of his fans and party workers who had visited Gurme's home on this occasion also shed tears.

Zilla panchayat members, Shashikant Padubidri and Shilpa Suvarna, party leaders, Paiyyaru Shivaram Shetty, Mthun Hegde, Sahana Tantry, Praveen Poojary, Suresh Shervegar, Umesh Shetty Kalathur, Kurkal Dinakar Shetty, Ranjan Hegde, Babita Aras and others also spoke on the occasion.

Thousands of fans and supporters of Gurme including BJP leaders, Raveendra Shetty Kollabettu, Vijay Karkera, Arun Shetty Padoor, Jayanand Hegde, Sudhakar Shetty, Anl Kumar and Jagadish Aras had taken part in the meeting.