Daijiworld Mdia Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Nov 19: Roshan Baig had openly criticized Congress leaders and had resigned from the party later. Due to disciplinary action, he was disqualified from the assembly. Baig, who represented Shivajinagar constituency in the city in the past and had planned to enter the fray as an independent after his last ditch efforts to secure BJP ticket failed, finally decided to stay away from the election. This decision has kicked up lot of curiosity.
It is said that Baig chose not to file nomination papers as an independent candidate because his name is linked to the multi-crore IMA scam. Baig, who had remained a force to reckon with among minorities in the state, now faces an uncertain political future.
Roshan Baig
After Baig failed to secure support of the BJP, his supporters expected him to become independent candidate. But Baig surprised them by opting to say neutral.
During the Lok Sabha election, Baig wanted to fight as a Congress candidate from the city central constituency. But the ticket was given to MLC Rizwan Arshad. Baig had turned angry as his plan to become MP and get his son Ruman Baig, elected as a MLA, went awry.
Roshan Baig was considered to be close to former chief minister, Siddaramaiah. He was rewarded by the party in many ways in the past. Although he had good relationship with the party's central leadership, he revolted against the Congress under changed political scenario. After criticizing Siddaramaiah, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president Dinesh Gudu Rao and state Congress in-charge K C Venugopal, he was suspended from the party.
Baig, who was disqualified later, is understood to have instructed his supporters to extend indirect support to BJP candidate Sharavana, in the bypoll.
BJP has done injustice to Roshan Baig, says KPCC president
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, Dinesh Gundu Rao, commented that the BJP meted out partisan treatment to disqualified MLA, Roshan Baig. He noted that the party has allotted tickets to all other rebel MLAs except Roshan Baig.
"Congress had not expelled Baig. He resigned on his own. He was a senior Congress leader and enjoyed good reputation in the party. He went away from the Congress but the BJP let him down," he rued.
Rao predicted victory for his party candidates in all the constituencies as the BJP has worked against the constitution.