JOIN USCongress facing challenge from ex-members
Candidate of the BJP and the likely candidate of the JD(S), M Narayanaswamy and C Venkateshappa respectively, are former Congressmen. Venkateshappa had tried for the Congress ticket till the last minute, but in vain. He had been a Congress MLA in the past.
Hence, for the Congress, the bypoll is a battle for retaining its prestige. Narayanaswamy had criticised the style of functioning of Union Minister of State, K H Muniyappa, when he quit the Congress to join the BJP. He had earlier quit the JD(S) to join the Congress and become an MLA.
Venkateshappa too has launched an attack against Muniyappa. Industrialist K M Narayanaswamy, who is now contesting as a Congress candidate thus faces an uphill task, fighting his former party colleagues.
Second time lucky
K M Narayanaswamy, who was denied ticket in the 2008 Assembly elections, has become second time lucky.
On learning that he wouldn’t have a chance in the Congress, C Venkateshappa pursued the JD(S) and managed to get the ticket. He met JD(S) leader K Srinivasagowda a few weeks ago.
His candidature will be officially announced by JD(S) State president Kumaraswamy or his legislator-wife Anita at the party workers’ meet in Bangarpet on Tuesday, said sources.
The bypoll has also become a battle of sorts between Union Minister of State for Railways K H Muniyappa and former minister K Srinivasagowda.
Defence strategies
The rumours mills are busy saying that Venkateshappa was fielded in an act of vengeance by Srinivasagowda. The challenge before the Congress, rather Muniyappa, now is to devise defence strategies to counter Srinivasagowda’s tactics and retain the party’s hold over the constituency.
The bypoll would also be a testing time for Muniyappa as the disappointed aspirants for the Congress ticket too would need to be pacified to keep his bastion strong.