Minister of cooperation Laxman Savadi, labour minister Santosh Lad, former minister HK Patil, MLAs NH Konaraddi, Srinivas Mane and other Congress leaders accompany Congress candidate Mohan Limbikai as he files his nomination for the election to legislative council from West Graduates’ Constituency in Dharwad on Monday
He defeated former minister HK Patil in 2008 and was associated with former CM BS Yediyurappa. He was appointed legal adviser to the CM in 2019.
Entrepreneur Shankar Koliwad said several like-minded people who supported Narendra Modi in Lok Sabha elections were now campaigning for Limbikai, whom he described as a mentor to entrepreneurs. He said there was disappointment over Limbikai leaving BJP despite getting opportunities. District Kannada Sahitya Parishat president Lingaraj Angadi, a former BJP ticket aspirant, said personal equations meant several BJP workers were internally backing Limbikai while publicly working for Sankanur. BJP state disciplinary committee president and MLC Lingaraj Patil, however, said no party office-bearer or worker was working against BJP interests.
Limbikai, who has accused Union minister Pralhad Joshi and Belagavi MP Jagadish Shettar of sidelining him, enjoys a rapport with voters and BJP workers across Dharwad, Gadag, Uttara Kannada and Haveri districts. BJP candidate SV Sankanur, meanwhile, is banking on the party’s organisational network for a hat-trick victory. An advocate, Limbikai has cultivated ties with voters by helping address grievances. Patil, now Gadag MLA, is campaigning for Limbikai. BJP functionary Umesh Dushi, however, denied confusion among workers. He warned that disciplinary action would follow if anybody was found acting against the party.
Hubballi: The campaign for Karnataka West Graduates’ Constituency has intensified after Congress candidate Mohan Limbikai filed his nomination on Sunday, with his candidature posing a dilemma for some BJP functionaries and supporters who share close ties with him.