Bypoll effect! Nobody to address public grievances, ministers busy campaigning
All developmental works in the state too have come to a standstill after the bypoll date was announced.
Bengaluru: Netas of all political parties are so busy in the bypolls to 15 assembly constituencies that they have absolutely no time to address serious problems concerning the common man. So much so that elected representatives did not even have time to go to the rescue of hundreds of people whose houses were flooded following the breach of Hulimavu lake in the city which falls in Bommanahalli Assembly constituency represented by Satish Reddy of BJP!
With the BJP now in power in the BBMP and also in the state, most residents expected leaders of the saffron party to come to their rescue but they were hardly visible with BJP ministers busy in electioneering in various constituencies spread across the state. Even Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa did not meet the victims while Deputy CM Dr C.N. Ashwathnarayana is camping in KR Pete to oversee the campaign for party candidate Narayanagowda.
All developmental works in the state too have come to a standstill after the bypoll date was announced. The survival of the BJP government which does not have a clear majority in the assembly, is dependent on the outcome of the bypolls as it has to win at least eight to nine seats to ensure the continuity of the present dispensation. All the 15 disqualified MLAs who are contesting on the lotus symbol, are banking on their personal charisma and the popularity of the BJP and Mr Yediyurappa to make it. “The CM has asked all his ministers to regularly visit the constituencies of disqualified legislators now contesting as BJP candidates and campaign for them. Yediyurappa is also learnt to have reminded them that the BJP government came to power because of the sacrifice of the disqualified legislators which should not be forgotten by anyone. Each minister has been given the task of monitoring at least two constituencies and extend all possible assistance to the candidates", a political advisor to the CM told Deccan Chronicle on the condition of anonymity.
While Deputy Chief Minister C.N. Ashwathnarayana and Revenue Minister R Ashok have been asked to look after three constituencies-Yeswanthpur, KR Puram and Mahalakshmi Layout; other ministers like JC Madhuswamy have been given charge of Chikkaballapur. Ministers like Basavaraja Bommai, Jagadish Shettar, Govind Karjol and Laxman Savadi have been allotted constituencies in north Karnataka.
Chief Minister Yediyurappa is personally supervising the campaign in Hosakote where MTB Nagaraj has locked horns with Sharath Bachegowda, Independent candidate and son of Chikballapur MP B.N. Bache Gowda. The ministers from Hyderabad-Karnataka region like Prabhu Chavan have been asked to look after the needs of BJP candidates in that region.
Similarly, the BJP's Lok Sabha members have been asked to be ready to accompany candidates for the poll campaign.
“We received instructions from the CM as well as the high command to spend the maximum amount of time in the allotted constituencies in the next 20 days. We will be doing it to ensure the victory of the 15 disqualified MLAs. Officials have been asked to manage things on their own till the elections are over. Thank God, there is no flood or abnormal rain in any part of the state which would have required our presence,” a minister told this reporter.