Halady’s withdrawal from election creates buzz in political circles in Udupi

Team Udayavani, Apr 4, 2023, 9:18 AM IST

Halady Srinivas Shetty, the BJP MLA of the Udupi district in Karnataka, has withdrawn from contesting the assembly election, causing a stir in the coastal political circles. Shetty, who contested and won as an independent candidate in 2013, has now announced that he will support the party’s candidate, leading to many positions being taken in the BJP regarding ticket distribution.

Shetty’s withdrawal has caused many to speculate on the reason behind his decision, with some suggesting that party leaders and past incidents related to them may be the cause. However, Shetty himself has not expressed any hint of going against the party, and has made it clear that he will support the party’s candidate.

It is speculated that BJP is now considering introducing a new face and changing the constituency-wise caste calculation. Shetty himself had told that he would contest as the party’s candidate, and has emphasized the importance of the candidate’s charisma at a core committee meeting held in Bengaluru on Sunday.

However, within 24 hours of the meeting, his decision to withdraw from contesting elections has raised eyebrows. Sources in the BJP have suggested that Shetty’s decision may have been influenced by external pressures. Nevertheless, it is clear that Shetty had the courage to contest the election this time, and his sudden withdrawal has left many wondering about the reasons behind it.

The BJP now faces the challenge of ticket distribution in Kundapur, where the party may have to give a ticket to the candidate suggested by Shetty. This decision could affect neighboring constituencies, such as Byndoor and Udupi, more significantly, as caste quotas come into play. With the election now announced, further developments can be expected in the coming days.