Bengaluru: In a concerted effort to break the hold of leader of Opposition in the legislative Assembly Siddaramaiah over Hunsur constituency and garner the support of Dalits, Vokkaligas and Kurubas for disqualified legislator and BJP candidate, A H Vishwanath, BJP leaders are putting in place a new strategy in the run-up to Assembly byelections on December 5.
Sources in BJP said the “DVK” (Dalits, Vokkaligas and Kurubas) strategy would also help end Mr Siddaramaiah's influence in Mysuru district, his home turf, and therefore critical for the party to make inroads and ensure Mr Vishwanath's victory in Hunsur. The leaders are roping in former IAS officer, K Shivaram, a noted Cheluvadi leader to woo Dalit voters, Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha to secure the votes of Vokkaligas, and former minister C H Vijayshankar (elected to the Assembly once from Hunsur) to influence Kurubas to vote for Mr Vishwanath. Besides, Member of Parliament V Srinivas Prasad (Chamarajanagar), who was instrumental in Mr Vishwanath's defection from JD (S) to BJP, has offered to drum up support for the BJP candidate next week. Former JD (S) minister G T Deve Gowda's decision to stay away from electioneering in Mysuru district would also prove a boon for Mr Vishwanath, sources added. Mr Vishwanath, who won on JD (S) ticket after he parted ways with Congress, is pitted against Mr Siddaramaiah's die-hard supporter Mr Manjunath. The Kuruba strongman has reportedly assured Mr Manjunath that he would campaign in Hunsur only for a day or two as he has to lead the party's campaign in all 15 constituencies going to polls next month.
