With the Lok Sabha elections just around the corner, the lone Samajwadi Party MLA in the State, C.P. Yogeshwar, appears to be in great demand. All the three major political parties in the State that have set their eyes on the Bangalore Rural Lok Sabha constituency are trying to woo the Channapatna MLA.
The Congress wrested the Lok Sabha constituency from the Janata Dal (Secular) in the recent byelection reportedly because of Mr. Yogeshwar’s support. Mr. Yogeshwar extended his support to the Congress in the last minute.
As both the JD(S) and the SP are now part of the third alternative at the Centre, the former is learnt to have planned to field Mr. Yogeshwar from Bangalore Rural. Anitha Kumaraswamy, wife of the former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, who lost the byelection, reportedly does not want to contest from the constituency.
According to party sources, Mr. Yogeshwar voluntarily offered to work for the JD(S) if the former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda opts to contest from this constituency.
The Bharatiya Janata Party, which made Mr. Yogeshwar a Minister, is also wooing him with the intention of fielding him from this constituency.
‘Will consult people’
Mr. Yogeshwar told The Hindu that all the three major political parties had approached him. “But, I will take a final decision after consulting people,” he said.
He, however, said he had no plans to contest the Lok Sabha election as he was tired of facing elections in the last four years.
The SP is making attempts to retain him in the party fold by promising him a Rajya Sabha seat.
