Belagavi: Ramesh Katti, who missed the the Bharatiya Janata Party ticket to contest from the Chikkodi Lok Sabha constituency clarified that he was not affected by it, here on Monday, April 1.
Addressing a press meet, he said, “I am not affected or hurt by the decision of the party for not giving me the ticket to contest from Chikkodi Lok Sabha. I will not leave the party at any cost.”
Ramesh clarified that he was not offered any money by the BJP State President B S Yeddyurappa for forgoing the ticket.
He said, “It is true that I was an aspirant for the ticket, but the party high command has chosen Annasaheb Jolle. I will work towards the victory of the candidate.”
On whether he received any offer from the Congress party, he said, “It is true that the leaders from Congress had spoken with me but they did not invite me. From my end, there is no question of leaving BJP.”
“BSY did not come here to have a compromise meet but for Annasaheb Jolle’s campaign”, he added.
He said that the party workers were not happy with the decision and that the party would look into that matter.
Earlier, BSY had held hour-long meetings with Ramesh Katti before the press meet.