BJP candidate files papers, party MLAs stay away

Sriramulu rules out rejoining saffron party; says he was shown in poor light

Gadilingappa came in a procession to the office of the deputy commissioner after performing a pooja at Kanaka Durgamma temple with Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda. State BJP president K S Eshwarappa, ministers Jagadish Shettar, Balachandra Jarkiholi, Govind Karjol, Narayana­swamy, Varthur Prakash and Lok Sabha member Prahlad Joshi were present.

However, the BJP elected representatives from the district, and legislators who have identified with the Yeddyurappa camp were absent.

D V Sadananda Gowda said the people of Bellary were well aware of the development projects initiated by the State government. He urged the electorate to vote for BJP candidate for the development of the constituency.

Eshwarappa said Karnataka leads the country in rural development and BJP had strived for the uplift of dalits and oppressed classes. “Let the bypoll end peacefully. Let there be no confusion and noise. We will ensure the victory of the BJP candidate,” he said.

Later speaking to presspersons, Eshwarappa said he would talk to all the elected representatives of the district who stayed away. He said he did not know the reason for their absence, but would persuade them to campaign for the party candidate.

Congress candidate B Ramaprasad also filed his nomination. Rajya Sabha member Anil Lad, Member of Legislative Council member K C Kondaiah, District Congress Committee president M P Ravindra were present on the occasion. Ramaprasad unsuccessfully contested the Assembly election last year. Kondaiah said Sriramulu, who resigned on the ground of “self-esteem” had forced a bypoll on the electorate.

Meanwhile, former health minister Sriramulu, who has contested as an independent, categorically stated that there was no question of him rejoining the saffron party. “I came out since there was a suffocating environment. I never hankered for power, but attempts were made to portray me in poor light,” he told presspersons. Sriramulu, however, said it was his desire that BJP should complete five years in office.

14 nominations filed

A total of 14 nominations have been filed for the bypoll to Bellary Rural Assembly constituency. Ten nominations were filed on Friday, the last date to file nominations. Former minister B Sriramulu, Govindaraj, B T Raju, Gangadhar, P Anjinappa, Halemane Durganna, B Srinivasulu, K Chennappa and P Anjinappa and have contested as independents; K V Nagendra, Ashok Kumar and Gadilingappa have filed nomination as BJP candidates; B Ramaprasad has contested as a Congress candidate and Chakravarti Naik is the contestant from Rashtriya Krantikari Party.