Demonstrations become order of the day in K'taka

Bangalore, Apr 25 (UNI) Demonstrations by political party workers have become order of the day in Karnataka ever since the parties started releasing the list of candidates selected for the next month's elections to the State Assembly.

It all started with BJP releasing its first list of 89 candidates, for the Phase I elections on May ten, last week.

Supporters of 'enraged' hopefuls smashed window glass at the residence of BJP National General Secretary Ananthkumar.

Similar incidents were reported from other parties also including the Congress and the JD(S).

However, there had been no reaction from the leaders or their supporters from the BSP or the SP as as they have little-known voter support.

Reacting to the agitation, Mr Ananthkumar defended the selection saying most of the names in the list were those of workers and such incidents were 'common in democracy.' Many of the 'disgruntled' prospective candidates belonging to the Congress, the BJP and the JD(S) have expectantly turned rebels with many of them quitting the party and filing nominations as independent candidates.

Then came the turn of disappointed Congress workers to demonstrate. The KPCC Office in the city was virtually seized by party workers ever since the list has been released.

Day in and day out, supporters of one or the other disappointed candidates staging dharna in front of the office and indulging in breaking glass and damaging furniture demanding inclusion of their leader in the candidates' list had become quit common.

The agitation went to the extent of forcing the party to shift its venue to a five-star hotel for issuing 'B' form to the selected candidates to avoid irate party workers.

This did could not prevent some aspirants becoming rebel candidates in various constituencies.

Demonstration by supporters of Film Actor-turned-Politician Jaggesh forced the party to include his name in the list by erasing the name selected earlier.

So was the case of another Actor-turned-Politician Ambreesh, the sitting Member of Parliament, who wanted to enter State politics.

In such poll related violence, police have registered more than 2000 cases UNI MSP GM RSA DS1333