Mangaluru: Arun Kumar Puthila, Leader of pro-Hindu organisations in Puttur, met BJP National General Secretary B. L. Santhosh and held talks with him. The meeting, which took place in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections, has created a stir in Dakshina Kannada politics. Puthila and Santhosh’s meeting comes at a time when there is talk of a change in the BJP candidate for the Lok Sabha elections.
Arun Kumar Puthila, a Leader of Hindu organisations who has contested as an independent candidate from Puttur constituency, had pushed the BJP candidate to the third position. Now he has been summoned to Delhi and B. L. Santhosh has held a secret meeting. It is learnt that Santhosh discussed the pre-poll developments and the post-poll issues.
In June, Santhosh held a meeting with five persons including Arun Kumar Puthila, and held detailed discussions on the political developments. Arun Kumar is said to have summoned Puthila to Delhi and held a meeting. The meeting was held at the residence of B. L. Santhosh in Delhi and attended by Arun Kumar Puthila, Bhaskar Acharya Hindaru, Dr. Suresh Puthuraya, a well-known doctor from Puttur, Ganesh, a Businessman and Rajaram B. L., who had batted for Puthila in the elections.
B. L. Santhosh held a meeting with the Puthila for more than two hours. During this time, the BJP in Dakshina Kannada is said to have received detailed information about the situation. Santhosh also sought information from Arun Kumar Puthila about the developments in the BJP ahead of the elections in Puttur Assembly constituency. He is learnt to have expressed his displeasure over not campaigning for the party candidates.
Arun Kumar Puthila, who was seeking a BJP ticket from Puttur in this year’s Assembly elections, was denied a BJP ticket. Puthila, who had rebelled against the BJP leaders, contested as an independent candidate. Asha Gowda was given a ticket by the BJP. However, the BJP candidate was pushed to the third position as Puthila contested as an independent in the BJP-dominated constituency. Congress candidate Ashok Kumar Rai won the seat. After the defeat, Puthila’s fans are preparing for the Lok Sabha elections and engaged in organisational work.