Don’t field Union minister Shobha Karandlaje from Udupi, BJP leaders tell PM Modi

Don’t field Union minister Shobha Karandlaje from Udupi, BJP leaders tell PM Modi

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, Feb 22, 2024: Union minister and Karnataka MP Shobha Karandlaje is facing opposition in her constituency from a section of local BJP workers who have asked the BJP leadership to deny her ticket in the upcoming Lok Sabha election.

 

Recently, a group of BJP workers from Udupi-Chikkamagaluru Lok Sabha constituency wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, party chief JP Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah asking them to refrain from granting a ticket to Shobha Karandlaje in the upcoming general elections.

The party workers have urged the BJP leadership to give ticket to a new face in the region.

A significant number of BJP workers have expressed dissatisfaction with Karandlaje’s performance during her tenure. Karandlaje, a Vokkaliga leader, is in charge of two ministries - agriculture and food processing industries.

Last week, Karandlaje faced flak from the fishermen’s union in her constituency during a meeting over a delay in the completion of the construction of a stretch of a highway from Malpe to Udupi.

A video of the meeting in Udupi also went viral on social media, where the union members could be seen questioning the minister about the delay in the construction of the three-and-a-half kilometre stretch of the highway.

"We’ve voted for you for 10 years. What have you done for us? Have you called the people of that locality and held a meeting on the same? You haven’t. Why haven’t you? Are you not our public representative? Don’t you have responsibilities? Why haven’t you taken any action regarding that road?" one of the local leaders told Karandlaje.

"You claim that Nitin Gadkari spoke to you over the phone. And you asked us to hear him. Provide in writing that the minister is lying; we won’t ask you again. Not a single piece of information was shared with us, not even a notification. Put it in writing," another leader told the minister.

The highway stretch has been in a dilapidated condition for several years, with residents complaining of several accidents.