Byrathi Suresh lost out on technicality; Congress seniors invoke Anti-Defection Act

BENGALURU: The ‘old guard’ of Congress did not really sweat it out to scuttle Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s buddy Byrathi Suresh's chances of securing the ticket for next month’s by-election to Hebbal Assembly constituency. They didn’t have to. All they had to do was quote the provisions of the Anti-Defection Act to bigwigs in New Delhi, to drive home the point that technically he would not be eligible to enter the fray as the party candidate.

On a day when senior leader Oscar Fernandes called on Mr Siddaramaiah to discuss strategies for Assembly bypolls as well as for zilla and taluk panchayat elections, sources in the ruling party said the veterans took advantage of an aspect overlooked by the Chief Minister's camp followers: A member of parliament or state legislature, elected as an independent, would be disqualified on joining any party after the election, according to the Anti-Defection Act.

In Mr Suresh's case, he erred by not giving up membership of the Legislative Council to seek primary membership of the party and subsequently apply for the ticket.

“He was an associate member, not a primary member when he faced the screening committee. The fact that KPCC adopted a resolution that only members of the party should be given tickets came in handy to help them impress the high command not to field Mr Suresh as the candidate,” sources added.

Sources said these veterans also pointed out to leaders in Delhi that it would be inappropriate to give the ticket to a Kuruba when two neighbouring Assembly seats-K R Puram and Hosakote-were represented by candidates belonging to the same community. In fact, their number would have increased if party candidate Channa Keshava was elected from Malur constituency in 2013, sources said adding it would tempt voters of other communities to vote for other parties.

JD(S) offers ticket but Byrathi rejects

Thanks, but no, thanks! That was Mr Byrathi Suresh’s response when he got an invitation from Janata Dal (Secular) with a ticket for Hebbal Assembly bypoll as the bait.

The invitation came from none less a leader than Janata Dal (Secular) patriarch H.D. Deve Gowda even after announcing the candidature of Ismail Sharief for Hebbal constituency.

Sources close to Mr Suresh told Deccan Chronicle that Mr Suresh reportedly got a call from Mr Deve Gowda on Wednesday morning saying that he would be given B-form if he agreed to contest the polls as Janata Dal (Secular) nominee.
Mr Suresh, however, told Mr Gowda that he would not join Janata Dal (Secular) at this juncture.

He also expressed his solidarity with Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah. Sources in the Janata Dal (Secular) party confirmed that Mr Suresh was invited to join the party and explained the reasons behind the move.

Mr Gowda was upset with former Union minister C.K. Jaffer Sharief, who promised to contest the 2014 Lok sabha elections from Mysuru as Janata Dal (Secular) candidate and even collected the ‘B’ form. He, however, went on pilgrimage much to Mr Gowda’s chagrin.

When Mr Suresh refused to contest, Mr Gowda issued the ‘B’ form to Ismail Sharief who was selected by party MLA from Chamarajpet B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan.

Later, Mr Gowda issued a statement that he would seriously work for the party candidate’s victory, sending a message to Mr Jaffer Sharief that he might not be in a mood help the Congress veteran whose grandson is contesting the by-poll on the Congress ticket.