Bengaluru: Baburao Chinchansur, a former BJP MLA from Gurmatkal constituency of Yadgir district, Karnataka, has alleged that he has been receiving several threat calls since Sunday. As per the BJP leader, the threat calls come in the wake of his open support to Umesh Jadhav, a Congress rebel, who joined the BJP a few weeks ago in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Presently, Umesh Jadhav is the BJP candidate from Kalaburagi. The Congress candidate from the constituency is Mallikarjun Kharge, who is also the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha.

In view of the threat calls, Baburao Chinchansur will meet the IGP and lodge a formal complaint with him.

Baburao Chinchansur, along with another Congress MLA Malikayya Guttedar bid goodbye to the Congress and joined the BJP last year. The two were allegedly upset with Mallikarjun Kharge as they alleged that he resorted to nepotism. It was further alleged that Mallikarjun Kharge sidelined local leaders in order to bring his son Priyank Kharge to prominence.

Baburao Chinchansur, Malikayya Guttedar will campaign for Umesh Jadhav from the Kalaburagi constituency.

Recently, there has been an open rebellion against the top Congress leader. Though he has won from Kalaburagi at least five times, this time, he will feel the going tough as all the three – Baburao Chinchansur, Malikayya Guttedar and Umesh Jadhav – were his close aides.

Another senior Congressman Malaka Reddy hailing from the same region quit the party, pointing his fingers at Mallikarjun Kharge. He also parroted the same views of Baburao Chinchansur, Malikayya Guttedar and Umesh Jadhav. He too will be campaigning for Umesh Jadhav.

In another development, speaker of Karnataka Assembly Ramesh Kumar is examining the case related to Umesh Jadhav’s resignation. Though Umesh Jadhav had submitted his resignation, Congress had alleged that he had resorted to anti-party activities and lodged a complaint with the Speaker.