Bypoll blues: CM quells rebellion in 4 North Karnataka assembly constituencies

Hubballi: Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, who held a meeting of his party leaders from all seven Assembly constituencies where by-elections will be held in North Karnataka, has managed to douse the rebellion in four of them, but had no success in Gokak, Kagwad and Vijayanagar, where the three rebel candidates remain firm on contesting the December 5 by-polls.

The rebels, Raju Kage of Kagwad, Ashok Pujari of Gokak and H R Gaviyappa of Vijayanagar (Ballari district) constituencies refused to attend the the meeting despite being invited to it..

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Mr Kage confirmed that he had made up his mind to contest the by-election as the party had refused to field him from Kagwad.

He said that he would like to contest the poll either on a Congress or Janata Dal (Secular) ticket, but if this did not work out, he was prepared to contest as an independent.

“I am confident of winning as I have the sympathy factor working for me,” he added.

Mr Pujari said there was no change in his stand on fighting the 'autocratic rule' of disqualified legislator, Ramesh Jarkiholi in Gokak..

However, U.B. Banakar, who lost the last election by just 555 votes to disqualified legislator, B C Patil, in Hirekerur and Dr Basavaraj Kelagar of Ranibennur said they would abide by the decision of the party top brass.

“Our party leaders have convinced us that the disqualified legislators had supported the BJP in a difficult situation and brought it to power in the state. They have directed us to work for the victory of the party in the by-elections and we will. We will only consider contesting the bypolls if the court verdict goes against the disqualified legislators,” Mr Banakar said.