Ringside Bytes: Denied seat, Dharam son-in-law may contest as indpendent

BIDAR: Chandrasingh, son-in-law of former Chief Minister N Dharam Singh, who was a serious contender for the Congress ticket from Bidar South constituency, is all set to enter the fray as a rebel candidate in protest against the denial of ticket to him.

The Congress has nominated well known businessman Ashok Kheny- who joined the party recently- from the Kannada Makkala Paksha as its candidate.

Expressing his unhappiness over the decision of the Congress high command, Mr Chandrasingh said that his service to the party during the last five years has gone in vain. “ I have tried hard to build the party from the grassroot level. But the party has given the ticket to a rank outsider, not withstanding the fact that there is strong anti-incumbency against him. I have called a meeting of my supporters tomorrow where I will seek their advice and go go by their decision,” he said.

However, sources disclosed that Mr Chandrasingh would enter the fray as an independent as there was pressure on him to contest. According to sources, senior Congress leader Mr Mallikarjun Kharge had fought hard to get the ticket for Mr Chandrasingh contending that Mr Kheny was an outsider. “But the stand taken by the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah that no sitting MLA would join the party in future if the party failed to honour its promise made at the time of Mr Kheny joining the party, tilted the scales against Mr Chandrasingh”, the sources added.

As for the denial of the Congress ticket to Mr Bhimashankar Shinde for Aurad reserved constituency, the sources said his caste worked against him. “Mr Shinde belongs to the SC Right group.