JD(S) leader announces support for BJP candidate in Karwar CMC poll

KARWAR: Former minister and senior JD(S) leader Anand Asnotikar’s announcement on Thursday, wherein he declared his support to the BJP’s candidates in the elections to the posts of president and vice-president of the Karwar City Municipal Council (CMC) came as much as a surprise to the saffron party as it did as a shock to his party and followers. Observers of local politics are of the opinion that it is in keeping with Asnotikar’s efforts to inch closer to the ruling BJP.
Rumours have been floating around for months about Asnotikar’s desire to rejoin the BJP. His efforts are allegedly being thwarted by Uttara Kannada’s BJP MP Anantkumar Hegde. However, in announcing the backing of four JD(S) councillors in the Karwar CMC, in addition to the support of two Independents, Asnotikar is reportedly trying to garner the goodwill of the BJP top brass. Nitin Pikle is the BJP’s candidate for the post of the Karwar CMC president.
In the 31-member CMC, 11 councillors belong to the BJP and Congress each. Although the BJP declared Nitin Pikle as its candidate for the president’s post of the CMC, dissenting voices with the party rose questioning the choice. Shilpa Naik and Nanada Sawant of the saffron party moved the Karnataka high court questioning the post being reserved for a member of the general category. They appealed to the court to direct the state government to reserve the post to a member of the backward community (A) category.
On the other hand, many of the aspirants for the post of the CMC chief have raised the banner of revolt. The Congress, meanwhile, has decided to wait to see how the BJP succeeds in burying these differences before staking claim to the top posts in the urban local body.
Asnotikar had, during BS Yediyurappa’s second stint as the chief minister starting in 2008, served in the state cabinet. But he was disqualified as an MLA after he revolted against Yediyurappa before the Supreme Court reinstated him as a legislator. Although he contested the assembly election as a BJP candidate again from Karwar assembly constituency, he lost to Satish Sail, an Independent, by a huge margin.
Asnotikar subsequently sought the BJP’s ticket in the 2018 election but Hegde opposed his candidature and the saffron party fielded Roopali Naik. After he was snubbed by the BJP, Asnotikar contested the election as a JD(S) candidate but lost to Roopali.
Asnotikar is allegedly trying to rejoin the BJP, and is reportedly seeking entry to the legislative council. The election to the top posts in the Karwar CMC is scheduled on Sunday.