Bangalore: It is not just the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which is fielding journalists from across India in the Lok Sabha polls. The BJP is also fielding people from the fourth estate in the election for the first estate. After veteran journalist and Rajya Sabha MP Chandan Mitra from Hoogly, the BJP has cleared the name of Kannada journalist Pratap Simha from Mysore-Kodagu Lok Sabha seat.
Pratap Simha, who is in his mid-30s is very well known and a highly controversial name in Karnataka. He calls himself a 'rightist' journalist and he is famous for his hardcore 'Hindutva' views. He joined a leading Kannada daily 'Vijaya Karnataka' in 1999 as a trainee and soon became its lead edit writer. His column 'Bettale Jagattu' meaning 'the nude world' became famous because of his strong pro-Hindutva views and his attack on anybody opposed to that ideology.
He has written several books in Kannada including the one on Narendra Modi, whom he idolizes as his hero. He is currently working in 'Kannada Prabha' owned by Rajya Sabha member Rajeev Chandrashekhar.
Pratap Simha's name was figured in a 'hit list' in 2012. An English journalist Matiur Rahman Siddique and some others were arrested for allegedly trying to eliminate Pratap Simha. However, the National Investigating Agency (NIA) cleared two of them including Siddique of all charges and the rest have been charge sheeted.
Pratap Simha was eyeing Udupi-Chikmagalur seat. But, former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa managed to get that seat for his close confidante Shobha Karandlaje. According to sources, local BJP leaders from Mysore-Kodagu are against his candidature on the grounds that he is not even a primary member of the BJP. But, Simha's close links to the RSS top brass in Nagpur may force them to fall in line.
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