‘Kumar sidelined me, I dropped him from team’

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal">SHIMOGA: Former chief minister S. Bangarappa is in the news again. But this time for having upset the applecart of his son Kumar Bangarappa. The cine star quit his ministership and the Congress party as an “obedient’’ son, to follow his father. In an interview to <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">The Times of India</span> here on Wednesday, Bangarappa justifies why the ticket was not given to Kumar.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">How are you feeling in the BJP? You had said the Congress was “suffocating’’.</span><br /><br />Very fine.Breathing pure oxygen. In fact, I ‘feel good and shining’. I am happy working under the leadership of A.B. Vajpayee, L.K. Advani and Venkaiah Naidu.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">You were given a free hand to select candidates in Shimoga district — why did you drop your son Kumar Bangarappa?</span><br /><br />I was annoyed by Kumar’s behaviour. He sidelined me. Besides, he has not done any work or helped the poor. Hence, I decided to give the ticket to my other son Madhu.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">KPCC president Janardhana Poojary says you have ruined Kumar’s political career by denying him the ticket...</span><br /><br />Don’t consider Poojary at all and also don’t believe the stories he has said about me. Just wait and see — after the elections, he will be a ‘Poojary’ of only himself.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Why are BJP workers unhappy over your selection of candidates in Shimoga?</span><br /><br />Workers are only expressing their opinion. It should not be considered dissidence. It is a common feature in all parties, which surfaces during elections. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">The BJP being a disciplined party, dissidence has surfaced only after you joined...</span><br /><br />Dissidence happens only in Congress. Some people may be upset momentarily. Sacrifice is common in politics. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">No senior leader in the Congress followed you to the BJP? </span><br /><br />Wait and watch. A clear picture will emerge after the seat selection process is over.</div> </div>