Gopi Krishna supporters hold massive protest outside Congress office demanding ticket

BENGALURU: With the Congress set to announce its second list of candidates soon, the state party leaders are now facing the heat of protests as the election draws closer.

On Monday, members of the Madiwala community and supporters of H M Gopi Krishna staged a huge protest outside the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee office on Queen’s Road demanding a Congress ticket to the leader from Tarikere, claiming that he is  the only representative from their community.

The supporters of different leaders from Kadur, Chikkamagaluru, Dasarahalli also staged protests at different places demanding ticket as the Congress is likely to release its second candidates list on Tuesday.

According the supporters, Gopi Krishna was assured by the party that he will get the ticket from the Tarikere constituency. The supporters intensified the protest when thy learnt that he was not being given a ticket from the party.

On the other hand, supporters of Yogesh Babu also protested demanding a ticket for their leader. The protesters attempted to gherao Congress state president D K Shivakumar when he visited the KPCC office.

Supporters of Yogesh Babu also demanded that the ticket should be given to him.

The supporters of Yogesh Babu said, “D K Shivakumar responded positively to our request. He promised that he won’t let leave our leader. We worked for the success of Bharat Jodo Yatra and we are opposed to giving the ticket to Gopalkrishna from Molkalmuru. We still have hope on Congress that it will not neglect Yogesh Babu, a hard-working leader who served the poor for many years”.

Nanjappa, president of Madiwala community, requesting state Congress president D K Shivakumar, said, “Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had assured that the party will give a MLA and MLC ticket to representatives of the Madiwala Community from Tarikere constituency. The party should keep its promise”.

During the protest, one of the supporter of Gopi Krishna attempted to consume pesticide, but the police took away the two bottles from him.