BJP MP to quit party for ignoring minorities

BJP MP from Karnataka and former top cop H T Sangliana has threatened to resign from the party in protest against the saffron party’s failure to field even a single candidate from the minority communities during the ensuing elections to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly.

Warning the BJP that its decision to completely ignore the minorities during the allocation of party tickets would prove costly, Sangliana, who belongs to the Christian community, said he was actively considering a move to resign from the party.

“But, I will wait and watch for the results of the elections. I want to prove that the BJP paid a heavy price for ignoring the minorities”, he told reporters in Bangalore.

Sangliana, who represents Bangalore North Parliamentary constituency in the Lok Sabha, said the BJP leaders neither approached him nor consulted him before finalizing the candidates for various constituencies in the state. The MP said he had sought for two tickets to candidates from the Muslim community and one ticket to a candidate from the Christian community. “But, they were not even ready to consider this demand”, he said.

“It is the most embarrassing situation for me. I blame the BJP’s state leadership for ignoring the minority community. This could prove suicidal in the elections. Members of the minority community have already started deserting the BJP”, he said.

Though the thought of resigning from the BJP is “definitely on my mind”, Sangliana said he would wait for the results of the assembly elections before announcing his decision.