Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Sep 24: Hoskote MLA, MTB Nagaraj, who appears to have undergone a change of heart on the issue of resigning from the Congress, has accused MLA of Hebbal constituency, Byrathi Suresh, of being responsible for the demise of former chief minister, Siddaramaiah's son, Rakesh.
This allegation has come at a time when the election commission has announced by-poll for the constituencies vacated by the resignation of 17 legislators in Karnataka. This sudden volte face has given rise to speculation that Nagaraj might be reconsidering his decision to resign from the Congress.
MTB Nagaraj and Byrathi Suresh
The timing of the outburst has given rise to suspicion about the veracity of Nagaraj's claims as there are rumours that Padmavathi, wife of Byrathi Suresh, would be fielded by the Congress from Hoskote constituency that is currently held by Nagaraj, during the by-poll. It is but natural for him to get angry at Suresh.
Nagaraj also said that Byrathi Suresh had provided encouragement to the vices of Siddaramaiah's son. He claimed that the bad habits were the ones which caused the death of Rakesh.
Nagaraj reportedly said that Byrathi Suresh is still a toddler in politics and that happens to be the main cause for the demise of Siddaramaiah's son. He accused Byrathi of spoiling Rakesh by encouraging him to nurture bad habits. Speaking to the media, Nagaraj also said that Rakesh would have lived for long had he not fallen into the bad company of Byrathi Suresh.
Rakesh had passed away during his tour of Europe during July 2016 on account of multi-organ failure at a hospital in Belgium. He was 39, and he was known to be a friend of Byrathi Suresh.
Reacting to Nagaraj's allegations, Byrathi said that he had always treated Rakesh as his own brother and that Nagaraj is making utterances, having developed the fear that he might face defeat if he enters the fray against the latter's wife in Hoskote. Election for the constituencies represented by the disqualified MLAs is scheduled to be held on October 21.
With the declaration of election date by the election commission, the disqualified Karnataka MLAs, whose petition in the Supreme Court against their disqualification is still pending, have become jittery about their political prospects. If they or their family members are not allowed to contest the coming poll, they are afraid that their very future will be bleak.