US resident aspires to contest Karnataka bypolls, requests BJP for ticket

Suryakantha Santhri, an American resident, who aspires to contest Belagavi Lok Sabha by-polls, has requested the BJP Central leadership to provide him with the party ticket under NRI quota.

Belagavi: A 62-year-old American resident Suryakantha Santhri, a native of Hallura village in Mudalagi Taluk, will contest the Belagavi Lok Sabha by-polls and has requested BJP to provide him with the ticket under the Non-Resident of India (NRI) quota.

Santhri, who stays in Washington DC, has applied to the BJP headquarters in Delhi for the ticket. The aspirant also spoke to BJP national president J.P. Nadda, Home Minister Amit Shah and party's organizing secretary BL Santhosh separately on the matter.

Election commission of India (ECI) is yet to announce a byelection to the Belagavi Lok Sabha seat that fell vacant after the death of the former Union Minister Suresh Angadi. Political developments related to the bypoll have begun in the district and hundreds of aspirants in the district are in a hurry to get the ticket from BJP.

Suryakantha Santhri is serving as the Managing Director of the Japanese Shipping Company in Hong Kong. After retirement, he chose to stay in America and established his own business firm there.

Speaking to ETV Bharat through Whatsapp call, he said, "I became the aspirant for the Belgavi Loksabha By-poll after my friends advised me to do so. I am basically from Belagavi district and have a desire to serve our people. I have asked for a ticket to BJP under the NRI quota.

"I have helped the people in my area to get a quality education and donated our farmland to the Educational Organisation in our village for the sake of the people. I have also trained many farmers to upgrade them in technology. I have received a positive response from the BJP leaders as well. If I win in the election, I will serve our people," Santhri added.

However, Angadi’s followers and relatives have demanded that the party must nominate either his wife or one of his daughters in the elections.

Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to visit Belagavi on January 17 for the reason that the election date is likely to be announced after 18th. In order to attract Shah, all the aspirants are making plans and strategies to get BJP ticket.