BJP makes vain bid to woo Sriramulu

Late on Thursday night, the party  announced P Gadilingappa as its official candidate.

The BJP had been firm that it would field its candidate in the event of Sriramulu not contesting the bypoll on its ticket. However, it decided to open a channel of negotiation as there is apprehension in party circles that the government may face instability if the party loses the support of Sriramulu’s camp with around nine MLAs.

However, when contacted by Deccan Herald, Sriramulu spiked rumours that he met State Party President K S Eshwarappa and former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa in Bangalore on Thursday.

Firm on decision

Asked whether he had gone back on his decision to quit the BJP, he replied in the negative. “My decision is final. I never came to Bangalore. I am in Challakere. Why should I meet any BJP leader when I was humiliated?”

To a question whether the BJP had promised not to field a candidate against him, he said: “Let the BJP do what it wants. I am not bothered.”

He pointed out that the BJP government, on the day of accepting his resignation as MLA, sent back the mining report to the Lokayukta, finding some lacunae.

“How can anybody justify this? The party wanted to finish me politically.”

There were rumours that Sriramulu had arrived in Bangalore on Thursday evening and held talks with Eshwarappa and Yeddyurappa at a star hotel.

As a backup measure, the BJP instructed two other candidates to file their nomination papers on Thursday - BJP National ST Morcha Secretary Nagendra Kumar and State ST Morcha President Ashok Kumar.