Anantkumar Hegde is a six-time BJP MP from Uttar Kannada district

New Delhi:

Weeks after a six-term MP from Karnataka’s remarks about the BJP’s 400-seat target sparked controversy, the party refused to clear the polls, once again sending the message that leaders who use off-the-cuff remarks are Leaders who embarrass themselves will lose opportunities.

Anantkumar Hegde, a BJP MP from Karnataka, has won the North Kannada Lok Sabha seat six times in the past 28 years, four of them consecutively. Mr Hegde is a repeat offender when it comes to controversial remarks, having sparked a political firestorm earlier this month by claiming that the BJP’s goal of winning 400 Lok Sabha seats was to amend the constitution.

He accused the Congress party of amending the constitution to “oppress Hindus” and told a rally that it was necessary to “rewrite” the constitution. “If the Constitution has to be changed – Congress has fundamentally distorted the Constitution by shoehorning in unnecessary content, especially by introducing laws aimed at suppressing the Hindu community – if all this has to change, it is for the (current) Mostly this is not possible,” said the BJP MP.

“If we think that the Congress is not in the Lok Sabha and (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi has a two-third majority in the Lok Sabha and is silent, then this is not possible,” he said, stressing that the The party needs a two-thirds majority in both the Bundestag and the states.

While the opposition parties slammed the BJP over its MP’s remarks, the party distanced itself saying Hegde’s remarks “were his personal views”. The writing is on the wall – the six-term congressman is about to lose his seat. It is reported that he lobbied hard but finally made the decision.

Replacing Hegde in the BJP stronghold is Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri, a six-time MLA who also served as speaker of the Karnataka Assembly and minister of state .

The BJP’s candidate selection this time reveals a clear pattern – leaders known for hate speech and controversial statements are strictly prohibited. Before Hegde, firebrand leader Pragya Singh Thakur and Delhi MPs Ramesh Bidhuri and Parvesh Sahib Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma was defeated in the polls despite being the sitting MP.

A party leader earlier told New Delhi TV that while winning was important, the party was also keeping a close eye on candidates who embarrass the leadership with provocative statements.

“The denial of tickets to them sends a message that decorum must be maintained in public life. In the past, the Prime Minister has repeatedly warned party leaders against making controversial statements,” the BJP leader said.