Bengaluru: Hosakote Assembly constituency has become a headache for the state BJP as well as Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa with Sharath Bachegowda, son of BJP MP of Chikkaballapura , B.N. Bachegowda reluctant to sacrifice the seat for M.T.B. Nagaraj, the disqualified MLA who was in the Congress.
The party had put in a lot of effort to convince Sharath to give way for Mr. Nagaraj, since he had sacrificed his MLA seat to bring down the coalition government.
However, Mr Sharath is reportedly not convinced with the party request with sources saying he may enter the fray as an Independent candidate from Hosakote if he is denied the ticket.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Mr Sharath said, “ I am likely to contest as an Independent from Hosakote but I will take a decision after consulting my supporters and well-wishers in the constituency. There is no question of sacrificing the seat for someone who has not done anything for the constituency”, he said.
“Hosakote is not like other constituencies in Bengaluru, here the party matters most. We have nurtured a BJP vote bank after my father Bachegowda joined the party. I lost the 2018 Assembly elections to Mr Nagaraj by just 2,000 votes. However in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP secured a lead of 10,000 votes in Hosakote”, Sharath said.
“I have been in touch with voters of Hosakote even after I lost the elections. I have worked for the party in the 2018 Assembly and 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Before my father Bachegowda contested on a BJP ticket, the party’s votes numbered only 10,000 in the constituency. How can I give up a vote bank which we have developed painstakingly to someone else”, he asked.
“My supporters and BJP workers fought M.T.B. Nagaraj tooth and nail in previous elections. Cases were filed against my supporters, I an not facing any cases, but my supporters have been facing court cases because of me. How can I desert them by giving up the seat? There is no question of giving up the constituency. We are waiting for the Supreme Court judgement on the disqualification issue of the rebel MLAs. After the court judgement, I will take a decision”, he said.
The Congress party too has approached him and promised to give him a ticket, said sources. The Congress has not yet announced its candidate for Hosakote and will take a call after Sharath Bachegowda decides on entering the fray. The party has kept its doors open for him, said sources.
