Ruling party fields Dharmasena to challenge Maritibbegowda’s contest to Council Deputy chairman’s post
JD(S) member of Legislative Council Maritibbegowda files nomination papers for the post of Deputy Chairman, Legislative Council, at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru on Friday. JD(S) MLA N. Cheluvarayaswamy and Opposition Leader in Council K.S. Eshwarappa
BENGALURU: In a strategic move which would help the ruling Congress expose the nexus between leaders of BJP and JD(S), the party announced its candidate for Saturday’s election to the post of deputy chairman of the Legislative Council. With Puttanna (JD(S) quitting the post to make way for his party colleague Maritibbegowda, the latter’s election was a certainty as the combined strength of JD(S) and BJP was more than that of Congress in the upper House.
On Friday, however, Congress leaders sprang a surprise by fielding Dharmasena, dalit leader from Chamarajanagar district, who was elected to the Legislative Council in 2013. Mr Maritibbegowda, too, submitted his nomination papers on Friday. Government chief whip in the Legislative Council, R.V. Venkatesh, told Deccan Chronicle that the intention of Congress was to expose the “unholy” nexus between the BJP and JD (S). “It is often reiterated by JD(S) leaders that they will not join hands with a communal party like BJP. To expose the double standards of JD(S) leaders, our party has decided to field a candidate. We are aware that our party lacks majority in the Council. Instead of giving up the post to the Opposition, we have decided to contest,” he added.
Besides, the move would also help slam the combined Opposition as the Congress has fielded a Dalit candidate from a backward district. The move was discussed at length by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and KPCC President Dr. G. Parameshwar, and they chose to field Dharmasena. “Our party has decided to field a candidate from either the backward classes or Dalit community. So we selected Dharmasena,” he added. It would help the Congress fish in troubled waters as there was lack of unity among JD(S) MLCs who were not happy to join hands with the BJP.
If Congress wins more seats in forthcoming elections to upper House, it would be able to secure the posts of both the Chairman and deputy Chairman. Some JD(S) MLCs, aware of such a development, could join hands with the ruling party, Mr. Venkatesh added.
BJP, JD(S) dosti likely to continue in BBMP polls:
Leaders of BJP and Janata Dal (S) are likely to forge a tacit understanding in select constituencies in the run-up to forthcoming polls to BBMP as part of their strategy to thwart efforts by the ruling Congress to capture power in the city civic body. A MLC of BJP told Deccan Chronicle that though leaders of both parties have not held talks in this regard, they have permitted local leaders to arrive at “seat adjustments” in select wards in order to avoid a split in votes between BJP and JD(S), a development which could benefit Congress candidates and help them win the elections.
The leader said the outcome of BBMP elections was crucial for all three parties. The ruling Congress considers the election as a ‘prestige’ issue, and plans to deploy all ministers in 198 wards to woo voters. Party vice-president Rahul Gandhi has reportedly warned of “drastic action” if six ministers who had won from Bengaluru City fail to ensure a victory in BBMP polls.
On the other hand, leaders of BJP were taking no chance in their effort to come back to power by highlighting failures of the Siddaramaiah government. On the other hand, leaders of Janata Dal (S) were trying to consolidate lost ground by taking up city-based issues like encroachment of tanks, crumbling infrastructure in the city, and alleged irregularities in Arkavathy Layout.
The MLC pointed out that JD(S) had a strong base in areas like Chamarajapet, Rajarajeshwari Nagar, Vijaynagar and surrounding areas when compared with BJP. Likewise, the saffron party enjoys a good support in areas in Bengaluru (South) and Bengaluru (West). Since triangular fight was in offing in almost all the wards, there would be split in votes which would ultimately help Congress to win elections. State JD(S) president H.D. Kumaraswamy has not opposed such a tacit understanding with BJP in select wards.
The MLC said BJP and JD(S) had issue-based ‘Dosti’ (friendship) in both the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council, which would help leaders of both parties to extend this bonhomie ‘unofficially’ even to BBMP polls. “We know well that no party will get absolute majority in BBMP polls and be able to run the administration on their own. The JD(S) may not like to join hands with Congress as Mr Kumaraswamy and Mr Siddaramaiah are at loggerheads. In this situation, JD(S) may not be averse to align with the saffron party to rule the BBMP jointly. Mr Kumaraswamy is on good terms with Mr V. Somanna, Mr R. Ashok, Mr Ashwathnarayan and other local BJP leaders which is sufficient to take this friendship forward,” he added.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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