Chikkamagaluru: RSS pracharak B.L. Santhosh, who has been accused by BJP state president B.S. Yeddyurappa of instigating a rebellion in the party, has support for him coming from an unexpected quarter with former minister and Chikkamagaluru MLA C.T. Ravi saying he was a RSS pracharak with no selfish motives and someone who had dedicated his life for the country.

Mr Ravi, while speaking to mediapersons in Chikkamagaluru on Monday, termed Santhosh as a leader who did not have self interests and who dreamt of a powerful country. Thirty years ago, Santhosh had done his engineering course with distinction but preferred to join the RSS to render social service, he recalled. Terming Santhosh as a straight forward leader, Ravi said senior BJP leaders like Deendayal Upadhay, L.K. Advani and Kushabhav Thackeray among others were RSS pracharaks in the past and the strong pracharak tradition had helped the BJP emerge as a strong party. The decision on who should be the CM candidate of the party, should be left to the BJP leadership and not to any individual, he added.