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| Many Kannadigas are upset that Venkiah Naidu had not done anything for the state despite enjoying such a long innings. |
May 29, 2016, NewsCrunch
After winning a Rajya Sabha seat from Karnataka for 18 years at a stretch, Union Minister Venkiah Naidu has shifted to Rajasthan, thanks to a Twitter campaign.
The surprise announcement by BJP on Sunday is a silent acknowledgement to the strong Twitter opposition to his re-election from Karnataka.
Venkiah Naidu was set to file his nomination from Karnataka. Media reports had stated that Modi and state BJP strongman Yeddyurappa were in favour of his nomination from the state.
But the Twitter campaign fuelled by pro-Kannada groups derailed is plans.
Many Kannadigas are upset that Venkiah Naidu had not done anything for the state despite enjoying such a long innings. They started a Twitter hashtag #Venkiahsakkiah - enough of Venkiah - to drive home the message.
In a belated move to placate local opinion, Venkiah Naidu recently announced that Bangalore would be selected for the smart city scheme. But that seemed to have had no takers.
BJP, which is eyeing to oust Congress from Karnataka in the next Assembly elections, due two years from now, decided to send Venkiah Naidu to Rajasthan, not wanting to rub the local opinion the wrong way.
But the Twitter campaign has only half succeeded.
Many were demanding all parties to nominate only Kannadigas for Rajya Sabha from the state. They are upset that of the 12 members, three were from outside Karnataka.
In this case, BJP has has decided to field Nirmala Sitharaman, another Telugu, from Karnataka instead of Venkiah Naidu.