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Veteran Congress leader and former Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa’s daughter, Dr Rajanandini, on Wednesday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), much to her father’s chagrin. She expressed displeasure on being denied a ticket from the grand old party, saying that the Congress has preferred to field a person “who has come from outside”.

Her father and former speaker Kagodu Thimmappa termed it “unfortunate” and asserted that his loyalties lie with the Congress party.

Dr Rajanandini held a meeting with former chief minister and Lingayat strongman B S Yediyurappa on Wednesday and joined the BJP in his presence. On being asked about her entry into the BJP, she said, “I have to work in the public field, so if I don’t get a chance somewhere, I have to work somewhere (else). I have to be with the people.”

She said that the Congress denied her a ticket to the May 10 election and that a “person from outside” was preferred instead. “I was trying for the ticket but they (Congress) didn’t give it to me. They could have informed us but they gave it to the person who has come from outside.”

Reacting to this news, Karnataka Congress leader Kagodu Thimmappa said, “I heard this news now. I never expected that she (Dr Rajanandini) will do like this. It’s unfortunate. There must be something behind this. It could be Hartalu Halappa’s (BJP leader) tactics. I’ll try to speak to her. I will always stand in favour of Congress, I’ll work for Congress party.”

The BJP, which released its first list of 189 candidates on Tuesday, has fielded 52 fresh faces, which is the party’s strategy against dynasty politics. This has however led to brewing discontent among the excluded BJP leaders, with ex-deputy CM Laxman Savadi quitting the party on Wednesday. The party also saw several workers protesting the exclusion of their candidates.

READ | Former deputy CM Laxman Savadi resigns from BJP after being denied ticket

READ | Karnataka assembly poll: BJP supporters protest over leaders being denied ticket

Meanwhile, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya stressed on the party’s “one family, one ticket” principle while addressing the media on Wednesday. “BJP has given tickets to 52 new leaders. I am confident that all new leaders will understand the principles that have gone behind the selection of candidates. The party has multiple opportunities for all those who want to contribute to the nation,” he said.

“The principle of one family, one ticket is something BJP has followed meticulously. A senior leader has made way for other leaders. Most importantly the whole decision-making process shows how seriously the party takes democracy, unlike other parties that decide their candidates in Kitchen Cabinets,” he added.