BENGALURU: It is official. The BJP has spurned overtures of JD (S) to arrive at an understanding ahead of elections to Rajya Sabha and the Legislative Council with state unit president and former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa taking a decision to back his diehard supporter Lehar Singh as the second candidate in the contest to the Council. Besides, his colleague R. Ashok’s efforts to field a common candidate for the Council elections failed as JD (S) declined to pull out their second candidate, Dr Venkatapathy.
On Friday, the last date for withdrawal of nominations, independent candidate Anil Kumar withdraw from the fray. Thus, the contest would be between JD (S) candidate Dr. Venkatapathy and BJP candidate Lehar Singh, both contesting as second candidates of their respective parties. Former BJP minister V. Somanna and Narayanaswamy of JD (S) are the first candidates of these two parties. In order to ensure the victory of each candidate, each party requires a minimum of 29 votes. Therefore, the BJP would have 15, and JD (S) 11 votes surplus votes respectively. As a close contest is discernable between both candidates of BJP and JD(S), leaders of both parties have commenced negotiations with independent MLAs and smaller parties. Dr. Venkatapathy has already approached few Independent MLAs. In BJP, however, Mr. Yeddyurappa himself has taken the initiative to negotiate with Independent MLAs and those of smaller parties. When compared to JD(S), the BJP has a slight edge in the Council polls. The party has already started negotiation with MLAs of KJP and BSR Congress. If MLAs of both smaller parties pledge their support to BJP, its number would increase from 17 to 18.
