BJP may face dissent in 6 of 18 Assembly segments in Belagavi district

BELAGAVI: The BJP, which announced its first list of 189 candidates on Tuesday night, is likely to face rebellion in at least eight segments in Belagavi district which has 18 Assembly constituencies, the highest after Bengaluru.

Meanwhile, the party is preparing to announce its second list of 35 candidates on Thursday evening, which will include the seats of 16 sitting MLAs.

In 13 of the seats in Belagavi district, the party has dropped Ramdurg MLA Mahadevappa Dodavada and Belagavi North MLA Anil Benake. It is expected to face rebellion in Athani, Yamakanmaradi, Belgaum North, Belgaum Rural, Khanapur, Bailhongal, Saundatti and Ramdurg. On Tuesday night itself, supporters of the incumbent MLAs staged protests in Belgaum North and Ramdurg.

Supporters of Anil Benake staged a protest on Tuesday night.

Legislator Anil Benake’s supporters too staged protest in front of MP Mangala Angadi’s house at Chennamma Circle in Belagavi. In Yamakanmaradi, supporters of Maruti Ashtagi staged a protest at midnigt in front of the district BJP office in Belagavi.

The BJP has opted for new faces in six of the 18 constituencies in the district — Nikhil Katti in Hukkeri, Basavaraj Hundri in Yamakanmaradi, Dr Ravi Patil in Belgaum North, Nagesh Mannolkar in Belgaum Rural, Anand Mamani in Saundatti and Chikkarevanna in Ramdurg.