Bangalore: Sriramulu Gets Fan as 8 Candidates in Bellary Bypoll Fray
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Nov 15: Eight candidates, including former minister B Sriramulu, who is contesting as an independent posing severe headache and problems for the ruling BJP and its candidate Gadi Lingappa, and Congress party’s Ramaprasad remained in the fray for the ensuing by-election to the Bellary rural assembly constituency on November 30.
Incidentally, Sriramulu, who is a close associate of Bellary mining lords G Janardhana Reddy and brothers, has been allotted the 'fan’ symbol by the returning officer at the end of the last date for withdrawal of nominations.
Of the 12 candidates, who had filed their nomination papers, as many as four independents withdrew their papers.
With the third major political party in the State, JD(S) deciding the field its candidate, the by-election is set to witness a triangular contest.
As Sriramulu, who enjoys the backing of the Reddy brothers, is determined to retain the seat won by him on the BJP symbol in the 2008 assembly elections even as an independent after he resigned the seat to uphold his ''self-respect” after being indicted by the former Lokayukta Justice Santhosh Hegde in his final report and thereby caused the by-election, the ruling BJP is faced with a piquant situation of making an all-out bid to ensure its candidate’s victory.
Incidentally, the former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, who wanted the ruling party leadership to entrust the responsibility of leading the electoral battle in the recent Koppal assembly by-election, has announced that he would not campaign in the Bellary rural by-election.
The Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda and State BJP President K S Eshwarappa have announced that the ruling party would fight the election under the ''collective leadership” banner.
Meanwhile, State JD(S) President and former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, who was instrumental in the party’s decision of not fielding a candidate in Bellary rural by-election, has asked the people to vote for an independent capable of defeating both the BJP and Congress.
''Rather than asking the people to support Sriramulu, my appeal to them is to vote for an independent capable of defeating both the BJP and Congress,” he said.