Mysore/Mysuru: In an emotional display of solidarity, supporters of Mysuru-Kodagu MP Prathap Simha protested this morning, advocating for his candidacy in the upcoming Lok Sabha (LS) election.

They decried the party High Command’s apparent move to deny him a chance to contest the elections for the third time in a row.

Gathering near the Hinkal Flyover in Mysuru, the crowd of supporters from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) and a large number of students voiced their resounding endorsement for Prathap Simha, urging party leaders to nominate him for the Parliamentary seat from the Mysuru-Kodagu Constituency.

Hundreds of protesters had gathered at the venue. The protest was initially planned at the Kempegowda Circle (Manipal Hospital Junction) on the Outer Ring Road near the meeting point of Mysuru-Bengaluru Expressway. However, the Police did not grant permission as the protest would hamper traffic movement on the busy stretch.

Amidst chants resonating with enthusiasm and fervour, slogans such as “For the nation, it’s Modi; for Mysuru, it’s Prathap Simha” and “We need Prathap Simha” echoed at the venue.

Holding placards, the protesters and students undertook a bike rally near the protest venue. This, however, resulted in traffic jams in the Hinkal Flyover surroundings.