The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Congress rebel’s claim puts leaders of Kuruba community in a fix

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Monday, May 05, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Congress rebel’s claim puts leaders of Kuruba community in a fix

K.N. Venkatasubba Rao and B.S. Ramesh

He talks of having the blessings of Siddaramaiah

Narendra Swamy is contesting as an
independent candidate
Sangha wants Siddaramaiah to clarify on
the claim

Bangalore: The reported claim of Congress rebel P.M. Narendra Swamy in Malavalli constituency during the election campaigning that he enjoys the blessings of former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has created confusion among voters and put the Kuruba community leaders in a fix.

Mr. Narendra Swamy is contesting as an independent candidate from Malavalli (Scheduled Castes) with “Coconut” as his election symbol.

According to a section of voters, Mr. Narendra Swamy has the blessings of Mr. Siddaramaiah.There are also rumours that Mr. Siddaramaiah convened a secret meeting of the community in a village near Malavalli recently and asked them to vote for Mr. Narendra Swamy.

Many workers of the Congress agree that Mr. Narendra Swamy enjoys the blessings of their party leader. However, they claim that it will not damage the prospects of the party’s official candidate Y.S. Siddaraju. However, Mr. Siddaraju told The Hindu that no credence should be given to the rumour. “It is a canard spread by vested interests to mislead the community. I will win by a margin of 15,000 votes,” he said.

The BJP candidate Mahadevaiah, who defected from the Congress recently, said that vested interests were planting stories to create anxiety among candidates. “The real fight is between Mr. Narendra Swamy and the BJP. Even if Mr. Narendra Swamy manages to garner Kuruba votes, it will only damage the Congress, JD (S) and JD (U),” he asserted.

Meanwhile, leaders of the Kuruba community in the constituency admitted that they were disturbed by the alleged secret meeting held by their leader.

A leader of the Malavalli Taluk Kurubara Sangha, who did not want to be named, said on Saturday at Malavalli that the sangha had decided to urge Mr. Siddaramaiah to clarify his position.

“Mr. Siddaramaiah is expected to visit our constituency shortly for electioneering. The sangha will request him to clarify on the issue,” he said.

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