BSY will campaign for Gadilingappa

Former CM to begin canvassing after visiting Vaishno Devi temple in Jammu

The BJP, which held a meeting in Bangalore to finalise its strategy to defeat former minister B Sriramulu, also resolved that the party should close its doors on the Bellary leader forever. Sriramulu is contesting as an independent candidate for the November 30 polls.

The meeting was attended by BJP State President K S Eshwarappa, Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, several of his Cabinet colleagues, party office bearers and legislators.

In the last few days, Yeddyurappa has been keeping the State BJP on the tenterhooks. The BJP satrap had even gone on record stating he would be staying away from the campaign for the crucial bypoll, due to unavoidable reasons.

Known for his political shrewdness,Yeddyurappa is learnt to have decided to move with the tide, sensing bright prospects for the BJP in the polls. He had also announced that he would take a final decision after visiting a temple. It is not known whether he visited the temple, but he announced that he would campaign for the official candidate.

As part of the larger game plan, Yeddyurappa is learnt to have supported the proposal mooted by a section of the party legislators that the BJP should close its doors on Sriramulu forever, even if it meant the Government would face instability threats. The legislators expressed their apprehension on the possibility of Sriramulu coming back to the BJP after the polls.

Such a development would be of huge embarrassment to the party as people would question the very need for holding the bypoll. It was resolved that there would be no homecoming for Sriramulu, party sources said.

Revenge against Sriramulu
In a way, Yeddyurappa is taking his revenge against Sriramulu for having staged a rebellion against him along with the Reddy brothers of Bellary in 2009.
The BJP will be going to the people with the poll plank, “If you want real freedom in Bellary, vote for BJP.” The party is likely to harp on the alleged criminal antecedents of Sriramulu, sources said.

Yeddyurappa will be first visiting the Vaishno Devi temple in Jammu on November 20, before beginning his election campaign. “We will fight the poll together and win by a huge margin. The people have appreciated the development programmes of the government during the last three years. I am 100 per cent confident that we will emerge victorious,” Yeddyurappa said.

Another issue nagging the BJP is the support of several party legislators from Bellary for Sriramulu. Of the eight party legislators from the district only two MLAs - Chandra Naik and Anand Singh - attended Thursday’s meeting. Two legislators, Somashekara Reddy and Suresh Babu, and two MPs - Fakirappa and J Shantha - have even been accompanying Sriramulu during his campaign tours.

BJP spokesperson Ayanur Manjunath said the party has been keeping a track of these developments. “We are watching. At present, the party has decided to give top priority to winning the poll. We will take appropriate action after the election,” he said.

He also expressed confidence that most of the legislators will fall in line and support the party candidate.