The ‘Go Back’ campaign against Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP and Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shobha Karandlaje, has escalated, with BJP workers voicing their objections to her candidature at the party office in Chikkamagaluru on Sunday.

While the campaign had initially been limited to postcard and social media efforts, an election-related meeting took place at the BJP office on Sunday in the presence of MLA Araga Jnanendra and BJP leader Bhanu Prakash. During the meeting, a group of party workers arrived and expressed their discontent, urging against fielding Shobha Karandlaje.

The protesting workers argued that the ticket should be given to a candidate from Chikkamagaluru and claimed that Shobha Karandlaje, who has represented the constituency for the past 10 years, lacks acquaintance with the block committee leaders of the party. They objected to the announcement made by B S Yediyurappa, a member of the BJP Parliamentary Board, predicting Shobha’s victory by a margin of three lakh votes.

The agitating workers demanded that Shobha should not be given a ticket under any circumstances. Despite attempts by BJP district president Devaraj Shetty and others to pacify the workers, they staged a dharna at the party office. Former MLA C T Ravi, who arrived at the scene, appealed to the protesters to consider supporting the party’s candidate in the larger interest of national politics. He emphasized the need to unite to secure victories in all seats in Karnataka.

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