Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)
Bangalore, Dec 15: Acting on expected lines, the state leadership of BJP on Wednesday December 14 withdrew the suspension it had clamped on three legislators hailing from Bellary region and an MLC. With this, the proverbial Damocles’ Sword that was hanging on the future of these legislators, has ceased to exist.
Bellary MLA, Somashekhara Reddy, Kudligi MLA, Nagendra, and Kampli MLA, Suresh Babu, had been suspended from BJP, following their active participation in electoral campaigning for former minister, B Sriramulu, who was ousted from the party, at Bellary Rural bypoll held recently. In addition, MLC, Mrityunjaya Jinaga, had also been suspended.
“We had issued show cause notices to the suspended legislators. The replies furnished by them are found to be satisfactory. Hence, their suspension orders have been revoked,” said state BJP president, K S Eshwarppa, on Wednesday December 14. Replying to a query, he said that the parliamentary board of the party will take a final decision over the suspensions of Bellary MP, Shanta, and Raichur MP, Sanna Fakirappa.
The above step, taken by the BJP leadership to save its face in the prestigious bypoll to fill a vacant MLC seat for which it has fielded Chief Minister (CM), D V Sadananda Gowda, as its candidate, has relieved the pressure on the CM. He can heave a sigh of relief now, as he was facing the prospects of the rebel legislators owing allegiance to Sriramulu voting against the party candidate, and creating an embarrassing situation for him, the government, and the BJP.
Sriramulu, during his visit to JDU office here to thank the leaders of that party for assisting his bypoll victory on Wednesday, surprised everyone by announcing that he does not aim to defeat Sadananda Gowda in the council bypoll. He said it would not be proper on his part to ask people who have got elected on BJP symbol to vote for someone else. About joining JDU, he said he will take a decision after holding discussions with the party's national president, Sharad Yadav, and Bihar Chief MInister, Nitish Kumar.