Bengaluru: The state BJP has reportedly sought the help of Maharashtra Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis and Union Defence minister, Manohar Parrikar to persuade two MES MLAs to support its candidates for the Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council polls.
The party, which has fielded Union minister, Nirmala Sitharaman for the Rajya Sabha from the state and Mr Lehar Singh as its second candidate for the Legislative Council, is hoping MES MLAs, Sambaji Laxman Patil (from Belagavi South) and Aravind Chandrakant Patil (from Khanapur constituency) will vote for them .
BJP state president, B.S.Yeddyurappa, is also believed to have approached Belagavi MP, Suresh Angadi and Rajya Sabha member, Prabhakar Kore to talk to the MES MLAs about supporting the party’s candidates.
But party insiders are afraid that both MES MLAs could vote for the Congress candidate in the Rajya Sabha poll and only support the BJP’s second candidate for the council. Not taking any chances, Mr Yeddyurappa is said to have also approached independent MLAs, S.N. Subbareddy from Bagepalli, G. Manjunath from Mulbagal, Varthur Prakash from Kolar and K.S.Puttaniah from Melkote for their support in the council polls.
The party is likely to try and persuade Chennapatna MLA, C.P. Yogeshwar as well. Having won the elections on a Samajawadi Party ticket , he is now identified with the Congress.
Meanwhile, the BJP Legislature Party meeting will be held on June 10, to discuss the Council and Rajya Sabha polls, according to party chief whip and Karkala MLA, Sunil Kumar. He said it had already instructed the MLAs on the sharing of the first and second preferential votes.
