Anantkumar Hegde, who has been representing the BJP in Karnataka's Uttara Kannada for four consecutive terms, has been denied a candidature this time after he triggered a controversy.
Embarrassing his party leadership, Hegde said BJP's 400-seat target is aimed at changing the Indian Constitution. He alleged that the Congress changed the Constitution to "opress Hindus", adding that winning 400 seats in the Lok Sabha elections will help BJP rewrite the Constitution.
Amid uproar, BJP distanced itself from the issue, saying Hegde's remarks are personal. The party went on damage control mode, replacing the controversial six-time MP with Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri, former Karnataka Speaker, in Uttara Kannada.
Hegde is not the only BJP leader to lose his seat over controversial remarks. Sitting MP Pragya Thakur from Madhya Pradesh and Ramesh Bidhuri from Delhi were also omitted from BJP's candidate lists.
BJP has also nominated former Karnataka Chief Minister Jagdish Shettar from Belagavi. Shettar who had joined the Congress in May 2023 returned to BJP in January. However, local BJP leaders in Belagavi have reportedly expressed discontent in fielding an outsider in the constituency.