Ballari: Ballari Lok Sabha member and BJP candidate from Molakalmur and Badami assembly seats,B. Sriramulu, on Sunday exuded confidence that he will emerge victorious from both seats.
A day after polling, Mr Sriramulu stayed at his residence and spent time with his family and friends.
Mr Sriramulu, who is up against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Badami, said the fear of losing the seat is haunting Mr Siddaramaiah now.
On Mr Siddaramaiah’s comment that he is ready to sacrifice the CM post to a Dalit in case the Congress fails to get a majority, Sriramulu said, “Till yesterday, he was confident of becoming the next CM. But now, all of a sudden, he has remembered Dalits, that too after elections! But he will face political uncertainty after losing both seats. His role will be reduced to a mere advisor in his party.”
Though he is facing a tough competition from BJP rebel and independent candidate S. Thippeswamy in Molakalmur, Mr Sriramulu seems to have garnered the support of the Nayaka community in the Hyderabad-Karnataka and central Karnataka regions, as he was projected as the deputy chief minister in case the BJP forms the government.
Sriramulu enjoys popularity among the Nayaka community in Hyderabad-Karnataka and Central Karnataka regions, while the influence of Jarkiholi brothers of Congress over the community is limited only to Mumbai-Karnataka region. The exit poll trends in both ST reserved and Nayaka-dominant general constituencies in Hyderabad-Karnataka region predict a fair chance for BJP candidates.
Mr Sriramulu too is confident of ensuring victory for his party candidates in about 20- 25 seats of the total 40 seats in the six districts of H-K region and Nayaka-dominant five seats in Chitradurga and Davanagere districts.
