Daijiworld Media Network – Gulbarga (SP)

Gulbarga, Sep 8: The BJP, which has been facing a formidable challenge posed by Congress candidate, Ajay Singh, who happens to be the son of former Chief Minister, Dharam Singh, and Aruna Chandrashekhar Patil of the JDS, in Gulbara South assembly constituency, feels a little bit relieved after former BJP MLA, Chandrashekhar Patil Revoor’s mother and sisters pledged support to it. It may be recalled that Aruna, wife of the former BJP MLA, who was nursing hopes of getting the BJP ticket, had crossed over to the JDS and secured that party’s ticket, after BJP decided to field three-time MLA, Shashil G Namoshi from this constituency. By election for the constituency is being held because of the death of the BJP MLA.

Shashil G Namoshi is a three-time MLC, but in the assembly election, his lone effort to get elected had been humbled in this constituency, in 1994. Compared to him, Chandrashekhar Patil Revoor had won the elections twice from this constituency, once in 2004, and again in 2008. Hence, everyone had expected that the BJP would allot ticket to the wife of its late MLA, Revoor.

On Tuesday September 7, Sumitra Bai, mother of the late Revoor, his elder sister, Dr Mangala Patil, and younger sister, Shailaja Chapparabandi, declared that they support the BJP and will canvass for the success of Namoshi. They said they do not support the decision of Revoor’s wife and children, to desert the BJP and join the JDS. They said they had kept mum till now because of threat to their lives. They complained that the property in the name of Sumitra Bai is presently in the illegal possession of Revoor’s wife, who refuses to part with it.

Sumitra Bai alleged that her younger son, Vijaykumar Revoor, had been murdered for property and hence, the family members had feared for their lives so far. She and her two daughters said that after the death of Chandrashekhar Patil Revoor, the MLA’s wife and children have not been keeping contact with them. “The BJP had nurtured Chandrashekhar Patil Revoor, and there is no question of us deserting this party,” they declared.