Anti-party activities allegedly spark discontent among BJP workers in Dakshina Kannada
Mangaluru
Alleged anti-party activities by a section of elected representatives of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Dakshina Kannada have triggered discontent among party workers and several local leaders, according to sources within the party.
The latest flashpoint, party sources claimed, revolves around Moodbidri MLA Umanath Kotian. The sources alleged that a section of BJP leaders, including Belthangady MLA Harish Poonja, has been attempting to politically isolate Kotian ahead of the next Assembly elections by circulating narratives that could damage his public image.
The controversy intensified after a private television news channel aired a breaking news report claiming it possessed a video allegedly linked to the MLA. However, the purported video has not been broadcast so far. Senior BJP sources told Blrpost.com that the report was allegedly “planted” by certain leaders within the district unit as part of an internal political campaign. Blrpost.com has not independently verified this claim.
According to party insiders, caste equations have increasingly become a factor in local BJP politics. They alleged that leaders from the Bunt community across party lines, including both the BJP and the Congress, maintain close political ties and seek to retain their influence in the district.
At present, four MLAs from Dakshina Kannada belong to the Bunt community—Harish Poonja (Belthangady), Rajesh Naik (Bantwal), Bharath Shetty (Mangaluru North) and Ashok Kumar Rai of the Congress (Puttur). Dakshina Kannada MP Brijesh Chowta also belongs to the same community.
Sources further alleged that constituencies represented by legislators from other communities, particularly Moodbidri and Mangaluru South, have witnessed sustained internal opposition. They claimed that Kotian has been facing resistance from a section of party leaders for nearly a year.
A BJP worker, speaking on the condition of anonymity, alleged that grassroots workers dedicated to the party’s Hindutva ideology were becoming increasingly frustrated with internal factionalism.
“We work selflessly for the party under the banner of Hindutva. But some influential leaders are allegedly working against Billava and other communities to ensure they retain their dominance in the district. These anti-party activities have now reached alarming levels, and the aspirations of the downtrodden communities are being ignored,” the worker said.
The worker further alleged that the recent controversy surrounding the purported video was part of a deliberate political campaign to weaken Kotian’s position. “If such internal sabotage continues, the party could face electoral setbacks in the coming elections,” he added.
Blrpost.com contacted Belthangady MLA Harish Poonja for his response. Repeated phone calls went unanswered, and he did not respond to a message seeking his comments till the time of publication.