Mangaluru: Once tauted as the ‘best performing Member of the Parliament’, BJP’s Nalin Kumar Kateel, who represents Dakshina Kannada district in the Parliament is out for some trouble. If repeated posts on social networking sites are to be considered then, it is evident that a sense of anger is brewing inside the BJP house, specifically among the party workers.
Nalin Kumar Kateel, an RSS Pracharak turned politician became MP for two consecutive terms after defeating Congress strongman B Janardhana Poojary in Dakshina Kannada Lok Sabha Constituency in 2009 and 2014. He has come a long way over these two terms, both full of anamolies. While several reports on one hand claimed that he is one of the best performing MPs of the country, the same MP got embroiled in couple of controversies leaving party’s face hanging in shame.
It is now believed that a section within the party has demanded for change in candidate and in sync with these emotions, even a social media campaign named ‘Nalin Kumar Kateel Hatao, Karavali Karyakartha Bachao’ is making waves. It is said that a top notch RSS leader and a few bigwigs of the party are supporting the campaign.
Sources say that Kateel invited trouble during the recently held Assembly polls, where he went all out to lobby for some of his close associates and ended up earning many enemies. Some of the BJP leaders including former minister Krishna Palemar came out in open and alleged Kateel of snatching away their opportunity in the assembly polls.
Controversies have not been new to Kateel, say insiders who recall the same kind of antagonism that had caught up even during 2014. A ‘callgate’ controversy had dented Nalin Kumar’s image in a big way and a well-known advocate came under scanner. The advocate was stripped off responsibilities of the party on charges of carrying out anti-party activities. However, this time the anger of the party workers seems to be glaringly out in public eye and sources say that most of the party members are unhappy with the way the MP has been functioning.
Meanwhile, Dakshina Kannada BJP President Sanjeeva Matandoor has defended the MP and said that Kateel is ‘people’s MP’, who had brought developmental works worth Rs 15,000 cr during 2014-2018.
“You need a reason to replace a candidate. As far as Kateel is concerned, he is not involved in any scam or misappropriation and has sincerely worked for the region. There is no confusion or rift inside the party. Some external factors are trying to malign the image of the MP and the party,” Matandoor told newskarnataka.com.
