The BJP will support JD(S) candidate E. Krishnappa.
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BENGALURU: Four months after leaders of JD(S) joined hands with those of Congress to wrest power in BBMP, they changed tack to forge a tacit understanding with erstwhile coalition partners, BJP, in key constituencies of Bengaluru (Urban) and Bengaluru (Rural) ahead of polls to the Legislative Council. With leaders of both parties keen to defeat Congress candidates in these two constituencies, they intend to work for each other for mutual benefit. On Saturday, leaders of Bengaluru City unit of BJP held a meeting to discuss campaign strategies where party workers expressed confidence that it would be possible to grab Bengaluru (Urban), but not Bengaluru (Rural). Therefore, the leaders decided to arrive at an understanding with JD (S) so that the BJP could benefit in Bengaluru (Urban) and JD (S) in Bengaluru (Rural), sources in the state unit of BJP told Deccan Chronicle.
Sources said the party would support JD (S) candidate E. Krishnappa who has entered the fray in Bengaluru (Rural), and in return take the support of JD (S) to win Bengaluru (Urban) by defeat the Congress candidate who also has to contend with rebel Dayanand Reddy, MLC. The BJP has fielded Dodda Basavaraju and N. Hanumanthegowda in Bengaluru (Urban) and Bengaluru (Rural) respectively. In the previous elections, BJP candidate lost to Congress candidate Dayananda Reddy by ten votes. A senior leader in the party said if BJP legislators of Bengaluru (Urban) district work, it would easy for the BJP to win in the elections given the fact that votes of Congress would be divided because of the presence of rebel candidate. Earlier in a day, BJP had decided to support JD (S) rebel candidate Ramakrishna Gowda in Mandya, but he withdrew from the fray by afternoon.
Sources said the party hopes to win in Mandya, Hassan, Bidar, Ballari, Tumakuru, Bengaluru (Rural) and Kolar-Chikkaballapur constituencies, and could improve its tally by winning Bengaluru (Urban) with the help of JD (S) leaders.
Meanwhile, the top brass of the state unit has decided to crack the whip against a rebel candidate and expelled Panchamsali Lingayat leader from Vijayapura, Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, from the party for six years. Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, Jagadish Shettar, tried to persuade Mr Yatnal to withdraw from the contest but his efforts went in vain. With Mr Yatnal determined to defeat BJP candidate and MLC G S Nyamegowda, the party had no choice but to expel him, according to state unit president Pralhad Joshi.
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( Source : deccan chronicle )
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