The former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa has announced that he will be campaigning for the BJP candidate in the coming Bellary rural by-election, ending speculation whether he would hit the campaign trail.
Speaking to presspersons after a meeting of the party attended by MLAs, MPs and Ministers of the Cabinet to finalise the strategy for the by-elections here on Thursday, Mr. Yeddyurappa said that he would be campaigning for three days from November 21, after his visit to Vaishnodevi temple on November 20.
The former Chief Minister claimed that the party was united and the BJP's victory was “100 per cent” certain in the by-elections. The by-election is seen as an ego battle between the party and the now estranged former Minister B. Sriramulu, who is contesting as an independent candidate.
Joint leadership
Briefing presspersons after the meeting, BJP State unit spokesperson Ayanur Manjunath said that the by-elections would be fought under the joint leadership of Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda, State party president K.S. Eshwarappa and Mr. Yeddyurappa.
He said that the situation had changed vastly since the early days when elections were declared, with most BJP MLAs, MPs and party workers now “strongly behind the party”. Bellary district MLAs Anand Singh, M.S. Somalingappa, Raju and Chandra Nayak are with the party candidate, he said. Mr. Anand Singh, who spoke to the press after the meeting, reiterated his commitment to the party.
However, close associates of the Reddy camp, J. Shanta, Suresh Babu, Somashekhar Reddy and Pakeerappa, continue to identify themselves with Mr. Sriramulu, who is posing a serious challenge to the party.
‘Doors closed'
He said that the “doors of the BJP are closed forever” to Mr. Sriramulu.
He said that a “final decision” on this was taken in the meeting on Thursday, and there was no question of going back on it “even if it affects the Government”.
Mr. Manjuanth said that there was “no confusion” on the issue and Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda had himself made this clear.
