Bengaluru: Shocking but true, JN Ganesh, Congress MLA from Kampli, who is now wanted by the Bidadi police in connection with the assault on former minister and MLA Anand Singh was a rowdy-sheeter for over nine years in Hospet police station!

According to the sources in the Ballari police, between 2006 and 2015, JN Ganesh was in the list of rowdy-sheeters of Hospet police station. The charges against him include obstructing police from discharging their duties. “But it was withdrawn as the prosecution failed to prove charges against him,” recalls a police officer from Ballari.

“In the year 2013, he wanted to contest on the Congress ticket from Kampli. But Congress declined him a ticket due to his background. He tried to test his luck as an independent, but he didn’t win. As rowdy-sheet against him closed in 2016, he rejoined the Congress and got the ticket. Former CM Siddaramaiah campaigned for him,” recalls Kampli residents.

“The whole episode is a big lesson for all the political parties,” said a resident of this small town who wished to be unnamed