Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Oct 18: The political parties, which had realized that holding of a bypoll for the local Lok Sabha seat was a certainty the moment MP, D V Sadananda Gowda, was made the Chief Minister, have stepped up their activities after indications came that Gowda will resign from his post soon, once he gets elected as an MLC.

State presidents of two political parties visited the town within a gap of two days, even though the purported motives of their visits were different. While BJP president, K S Eshwarappa, came here on Saturday, Congress president, Dr G Parameshwar, visited the town on Sunday. Both of them held consultations with party activists.

Parameshwar admitted that preparation for bypoll was one of the purposes for his visit. Eshwarappa said that ensuring participation of people from all the booth level units of the party for Advani’s Rath Yatra was the main purpose of his visit, indicating that the party too has in its mind the upcoming bypoll.

Congress is considering names of former MLA and minister, Jayaprakash Hegde, who had contested for this post once earlier,  former MP, Vinay Kumar Sorake, former minister, D K Taradevi, and  B L Shankar from Chikmagalur for Udupi-Chikmagalur Lok Sabha seat. BJP sources claim that time is not yet ripe to discuss election issues now, as DVS is yet to resign from his Lok Sabha membership, and also as their immediate priority will be making arrangements for the successful holding of Advani’s Rath Yatra.

MLC, N Shankarappa, has already resigned from his membership, to pave way for the Chief Minister to get elected in his place. Date of bypoll for this post has not yet been announced. DVS has the liberty to decide about leaving his membership of Lok Sabha after result of the MLC election is announced.