Daijiworld Media Network – Bellary (SP)

Bellary, Nov 2: Former state minister and close confidante of Reddys from Bellary, B Sriramulu, is suddenly faced with the need to hasten through his next political move. The Election Commission has announced that bypoll for the vacant Bellary Rural constituency, which Sriramulu represented before resigning from the state assembly, will be held on November 30. November 11 happens to be the last day for filing of nominations.

Sriramulu had, in a surprising move, resigned from his membership of the state assembly on September 4. The very next day, Sriramulu’s close confidante and strong supporter, Janardhan Reddy, was arrested relating to mining scam. It was believed that Sriramulu’s move was a gimmick enacted by Reddy Brothers, who were angry at not getting ministerial berths in the new cabinet. The resignation was accepted after much dilly-dallying and behind-the-scene manoeuvres, by the assembly speaker on October 14. Although it was initially thought that Sriramulu would relent, he did not budge till the end, and remained hell-bent upon acceptance of his resignation.

Sriramulu now has an opportunity to prove that he is still popular in this belt, by fighting the coming election. Although there were rumours that he would be building a new party or migrate to an existing party, nothing of that sort has happened so far. All these days, Sriramulu used to parry the questions posed by press persons repeatedly, by saying that he would soon announce his next move. But the election has come as a testing time for him. The bypoll is also crucial for the BJP, which till now enjoyed the support of Reddys and Sriramulu, who have tremendous clout in the district.

Although the people in general feel that the BJP has lost its sheen in this belt because of the resignation of Sriramulu and arrest of Janardhan Reddy, there is no indication to support the notion that Congress and JDS have become formidable forces here. As the BJP’s image has received a beating all over the state, it is said that Sriramulu may contest as an independent candidate.  Congress and JDS may either field strong candidates or decide to put up a consensus candidate in an effort to gain upper hand. People are now awaiting the next move of Sriramulu, whose popularity as a leader of the masses does not seem to have been dented in rural pockets of the district so far.