Mysuru:  Even as it is preparing for the Dec. 5 by-polls, the ruling BJP is facing rebellion from within the party in the fielding of party candidates in Constituencies represented by disqualified Legislators.

Soon after realising that he would not get the party ticket, senior BJP leader Raju Kage, who was a BJP aspirant for the party ticket from Kagawad Assembly segment in Belagavi district, is all set to quit the party and join the Congress today, which has promised him the ticket. 

Likewise, BJP leaders in several Constituencies are said to be preparing to quit the party, after coming to know that they won’t get the party ticket, as the BJP in all likelihood will field the disqualified Legislators or to the candidates suggested by them for the Dec. 5 by-poll.

In another blow to the BJP, senior BJP leader from Gokak Ashok Poojari too is all set to defect to the Congress and  contest the by-poll on a Congress ticket. 

Poojari too is likely to join the Congress along with Raju Kage today and take on Ramesh Jarkiholi, who in all probability will contest the Gokak by-poll on a BJP ticket.

It may be mentioned here that it was Ramesh Jarkiholi who triggered the collapse of the coalition Government and paved way for the formation of BJP Government in the State.