Varthur worried over Cabinet berth

The outcome of the bypoll to Bangarpet Assembly constituency is sure to have a bearing on the ministerial aspirations of legislator Varthur Prakash.

Rumours have been doing rounds that BJP candidate Narayanaswamy will be inducted into the Cabinet in case of his victory.

The rumours, which has assumed the dimension of an ‘unofficial declaration’ have come as a setback to Varthur Prakash who has been nursing aspiration of a Cabinet berth. The bypolls were necessitated as Narayanaswamy joined the BJP from the Congress.

Varthur has been staking his claim as he extended support to Yeddyurappa government at a crucial hour - when the government was asked to prove majority on the floor of the House.

Meeting with CM

Stung by the development, Varthur has decided to meet the chief minister on Thursday over his ministerial ambition. He was confident that the issue would be “settled” in a day or two. Sources said Varthur will not go against BJP at least in public, in view of the recent legal sanction for disqualification of five independent legislators. The MLA also extended his assistance in BJP capturing power at the zilla panchayat.

On the other hand, the Congress and JD(S) have been scouting for candidates. With a long list of aspirants, there also have been possibilities of a tie-up between the two parties. Sources said talks are on to field “dummy” candidates to ensure victory for Congress in return aiding JD(S) to secure Channapatna.

Defeat strategy

Rather than winning the election, ensuring the defeat of Narayanaswamy has become a priority for the Congress. Union Minister of State for Railways, K H Muniyappa while speaking to reporters after the visit of election observers hinted at “teaching a lesson” to Narayanaswamy. Given the latter’s statement that Congress was suffocating under Muniyappa, ensuring Narayanaswamy’s defeat has become a matter of personal prestige to Muniyappa.

The JD(S) is awaiting the directions of the state party chief H D Kumaraswamy. Former minister K Srinivasa Gowda who now has assumed a ‘prominent’ position in the JD(S) after abandoning Congress has held a round of talks with supporters. He rushed to Bangalore after an indication of poll alignment with the Congress, along with legislator G K Venkatashiva Reddy.