BENGALURU: Buoyed by reports of a smooth sail for the ruling party in at least 10 of the 15 Assembly constituencies going to polls on December 5, Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa on Monday decided to put his feet up and relax tomorrow, the last day for electioneering.
Sources in the state unit of BJP said pre-poll reports received from units across Karnataka highlighted the fact that initial resistance from rebels or local leaders in almost all segments was overcome through parleys by aides of Mr Yediyurappa with individuals who threatened to queer the pitch for disqualified legislators fielded by the party. Therefore, BJP candidates are certain to win without any difficulty in Mahalakshmi Layout, K R Puram, Chikkaballapura, Yellapur, Kagwad, Athani, Hirekerur and Vijayanagar, while party nominees in segments dominated by Vokkaliga and OBC voters set to pull off victories despite stiff resistance from candidates of Congress and JD (S).
“The contest in seven-eight Assembly seats is one-sided, as candidates of other parties are no match to our candidates and our party workers. Though minor tussles were visible in some places when the party decided to give tickets to disqualified legislators, our leaders have succeeded in placating them and roping them to campaign for our candidates,” a strategist in BJP told Deccan Chronicle, adding former minister Aravind Limbavali and Ravikumar held one-on-one meetings with rebels and convinced them to support party candidates in the bypolls.
Sources said leaders and workers put in an extra effort in seats where the contest could be tough. The sole seat where the party finds the going tough, Hosakote, with rebel candidate Sharath Bachegowda, son of BJP MP K. N. Bache Gowda, likely to spoil the party for M T B Nagaraj, could witness a combined effort by the Congress and JD(S) to defeat the ruling party nominee, sources added.
