BENGALURU: Will rebel BJP candidate, Sharath Bachche Gowda who won from Hosakote constituency, return to the party fold?
Though the ruling party pulled all the stops to ensure former minister M T B Nagaraj’s victory, with Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, focusing on this segment abutting Bengaluru, this rebel candidate won by an impressive margin of 11, 486 votes. He played the ‘self respect’ card well during electioneering and won over voters and scores of party workers. His father and Member of Parliament, B N Bachche Gowda, worked for his success behind-the-scenes despite warnings issued by senior leaders of the party. Besides, Mr Bachche Gowda skilled the party’s rallies to drum up support for Mr Nagaraj.
During his campaign, Mr Sharath Bachche Gowda dropped hints of his intentions to return to the party fold on winning the bypoll as part of his strategy to prevent BJP leaders from initiating disciplinary action against his father.
Immediately after announcement of results the bypolls on Monday, the victorious candidate told the media that several options are open to him, including rejoining the BJP.
Sources in the party, however, felt he would not be able to return to the party immediately as Mr Nagaraj complained to the top brass of BJP against Mr Bachche Gowda, alleging the MP was responsible for his defeat.
Therefore top leaders are not keen to invite the wrath of Mr Nagaraj by welcoming the winner immediately, sources added.
