Daijiworld Media Network - Shivamogga (SP)

Shivamogga, Sep 24: In a surprising U-turn, state BJP chief, B S Yeddyurappa, insisted that he would contest the next assembly election from Shikaripur constituency. It may be recalled that Yeddyurappa and some of his party leaders had said that national president of BJP, Amit Shah, had asked him to choose a north Karnataka constituency to give a boost to the party's prospects there, and that the former chief minister had agreed to the suggestion.

It has to be seen whether Yeddyrappa has drawn curtains over the issue of his choice of constituency for the ensuing election with the above announcement, which was made at the booth level workers meeting of BJP organized at Neralagi in Shiralkoppa town in the district on Saturday September 23. He asserted his followers that he would be fighting from Shikaripur constituency, which had repeatedly reposed trust on him, and given him renewed strength and vigour by choosing him as their representative time and again.

This statement of the BJP chief ministerial candidate appears to end the speculation about his being fielded from Bagalkot district. It has also created an environment of curiousness in party circles. Speaking at the meeting, he said that he has been under immense pressure from party workers here to contest from Shikaripur constituency and that he would convince party leaders about the situation in the constituency. Yeddurappa expressed confidence about being able to convince top leadership of the party about the justifiability of his desire to be fielded from this constituency once again.