The Badami Assembly constituency would witness a high-voltage fight between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and BJP warhorse B Sriramulu. The saffron party, however, is yet to put an end to the suspense on whom it will field against Siddaramaiah.
Although the BJP was yet to formally announce its decision, Bagalkot MP P C Gaddigoudar told reporters on Tuesday that Sriramulu would contest against Siddaramaiah in Badami. “Party leaders have asked us to make preparations for filing of nominations. Sreeramulu will be accompanied by B S Yeddyurappa and Jagadish Shettar,” Gaddigoudar said.
Besides Sriramulu, Gaddigoudar himself is said to be one of the contenders the BJP may choose to field against Siddaramaiah. Former legislator M K Pattanashetti and his relative Mahantesh Mamadapur are also under consideration, it is said. As a JD(S) candidate, Mamadapur stood second in Badami in the 2013 polls.
The BJP’s plan, according to sources, is to consolidate votes of the Valmiki community to which Sriramulu belongs. It also hopes to bag the Lingayat-Veerashaiva votes with B S Yeddyurappa as its chief ministerial face. Siddaramaiah is scheduled to file his nomination in Badami at around 2 pm on Tuesday.
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