Political row erupts as BJP fields Mangala Angadi for Lok Sabha by-poll

The decision to give the ticket to Mangala Angadi, late Union Minister Suresh Angadi's wife, has erupted a political debate in the state as the party seems to have given a way to dynastic politics.

Belagavi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded Mangala Angadi, wife of late Union Minister Suresh Angadi, as its candidate for the Lok Sabha by-poll to the Belgaum constituency in Karnataka.

The decision to give the ticket to Mangala has erupted a political debate in the state as the party seems to have given a way to dynastic politics.

The saffron party also denied tickets to former Defence Minister late Manohar Parrikar's son and late minister Ananth Kumar's wife.

However, a senior party functionary said the choice of Angadi’s wife is mainly to focus on the party's cadre rather than encouraging new entrants to the party like Ramesh Jarkiholi, who has a dominant presence in the district but is embroiled in a CD scandal.

It may be mentioned here that the Belgaum constituency fell vacant, following the death of Union Minister Suresh Angadi, last year due to COVID-19.

According to a statement issued by the party, BJP has also fielded K Ratna Prabha, a former IAS officer, from the Tirupati Lok Sabha constituency in Andhra Pradesh.

The Tirupati seat fell vacant after the demise of MP Balli Durga Prasad Rao last year.

Both Balli Durga Prasad Rao and Suresh Angadi passed away after contracting COVID-19.

On Thursday, BJP released the list containing names of its nine candidates for the nine assembly by-polls spread across six states.

Elections to these seats will be held on April 17 and the counting of votes will take place on May 2.