Bengaluru: In a big twist to the state politics, Deputy Chief Minister Lakshman Savadi failed to secure party ticket from the Athani constituency in the upcoming by-election.

In a meeting chaired by CM BS Yediyurappa, it was decided to give the party ticket to Mahesh Kumatahalli, disqualified MLA who quit Congress to help BJP form the government in the by-election.

In the 2018 assembly election, Savadi was defeated in this constituency and was expecting the party ticket to contest in the by-election. He is said to now oppose the party ticket to Mahesh.

According to the sources, in the meeting, BSY warned party state leadership against raising voice against the party decision saying it may put his government in danger.