Vijayapura: Call it homecoming or political compulsion that drove him to take the decision. Somanagouda Patil Managuli, popularly known as Appugouda has joined the JD (S) again.
The decision has come following the BJP denying ticket to him to contest from Basavanabagewadi constituency from where he had contested in the last polls on JD (S) ticket.
He was angry with the party after the High Command decided to offer a ticket to Former MLA, S. K. Bellubbi while it was expected that Managuli could get a ticket.
Managuli had joined the BJP after his defeat in the last Assembly election on JD (S) ticket. Since he had lost by a narrow margin against Shivanand Patil of the Congress, it was speculated that he could get the ticket after joining the BJP.
Moreover, since Bellubbi was denied a ticket by the BJP in the 2018 election, he had joined the JD(S) and contested from Vijayapura city.
The BJP had given the ticket to Sangaraj Desai, a young party leader from Basavanabewadi against Shivanand Patil. Angry with the BJP, he said that the party has ditched him after assuring to offer a ticket when he had joined the BJP.
He also claimed that in the internal survey conducted by the BJP, it was his name that had gained more votes. “But now, the BJP has backstabbed me by denying the ticket for no reason,” he said to media persons.
Meanwhile some 12 members of Managuli Town Panchayat who are supporters of Managuli had also resigned from their post in support of their leader.
Upset with the decision, Managuli had held a meeting of his supporters where they had advised him either to join any other party or contest polls as an independent candidate.
Finally, Managuli has taken the decision to join the JD (S) as the party may offer him a ticket also.
Even the JD (S) which was looking for a stronger candidate, has got shot in the arm after the rejoining of Managuli in the party.
