A fresh political controversy has erupted within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Mysuru, Karnataka, after a senior leader openly challenged a former Member of Parliament. The conflict centers on the coveted ticket for the Chamaraja assembly constituency for the next state elections.
Open Challenge and Heated Accusations
The drama unfolded just a day after former Mysuru MP Pratap Simmha expressed his desire to contest from the Chamaraja constituency in the upcoming assembly election. In a swift and sharp response, BJP's Mysuru city unit president and former MLA, L Nagendra, threw down the gauntlet. He publicly dared Simmha to a debate, focusing on the developmental works carried out by each leader.
"It is an open challenge for him," declared Nagendra, visibly upset by Simmha's political move. He questioned the former MP's moral grounds for seeking the party ticket from Chamaraja, a constituency Nagendra himself has represented. "On what moral grounds is Simmha seeking a party ticket from Chamaraja constituency?" he questioned pointedly.
Nagendra Fires a Series of Questions
Launching a direct attack, Nagendra posed several probing questions to his party colleague. He asked whether Simmha had campaigned for BJP MP Yaduveer Wadiyar during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He also questioned Simmha's depth of knowledge about the local issues of the Chamaraja constituency.
The most personal jab came when Nagendra asked, "Why do you want to sacrifice me for your political future?" This highlighted the internal rivalry and the high stakes involved in the ticket distribution. Mocking Simmha's self-proclaimed stature, Nagendra said, "You claim you are a Hindu tiger and state leader. Contest from any other constituency to show your strength."
Past Claims and Future Intentions
Nagendra also reminded everyone of Simmha's previous assertions. He recalled that before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Simmha had confidently stated that no one else would get the party ticket for the Mysuru Lok Sabha seat besides him. "Later, everyone knew what happened," Nagendra remarked, alluding to the fact that Simmha was not renominated. He added, "Our top brass is strong," indicating his faith in the party leadership's decision-making.
In a firm declaration of his own political ambitions, Nagendra announced that he intends to contest from the Chamaraja constituency in the 2028 assembly elections with the blessings of the party leaders. This statement sets the stage for a prolonged internal tussle within the Mysuru BJP unit, as two prominent figures vie for dominance in the same political turf.
