Social worker enters election fray in Bagepalli constituency

Infighting in JD(S) continues in Mulbagal, new chief in CB Pur

S N Subba Reddy of the Subba Reddy Charitable Trust said he would definitely contest the upcoming Assembly elections from Bagepalli constituency either as a Congress candidate or as an Independent candidate.

He was addressing a press conference at RKN Theatre after inaugurating the Congress party office in town on Friday.

“I have always worked as a Congress activist with the hope of getting a party ticket. If I do not get one, however, I shall contest as an Independent instead of indulging in party-hopping,” said Reddy, adding that the Trust would soon bring out a health insurance project of Rs one lakh a year for every family.

Chendoor Venkatesh, former vice-president of the Taluk Panchayat, said Reddy’s work was in sharp contrast to the legislators, who only promise the heavens but leave the citizens to suffer once they win the elections. “Subba Reddy, however, has always worked for the people, who should now take the initiative to hand the official reins to him to implement projects for greater welfare and development of the taluk,” he requested.

Ramanath Reddy, president of the Lawyers’ Association, Gudibande taluk, expressed support to Subba Reddy, saying the organisation had always appreciated the efforts of Subba Reddy at serving the public and responding to their problems.

Association members and office-bearers Shivananda Reddy, Narayanaswamy, Nandish Reddy, Shivappa, Lakshminarayana were present. Zilla Panchayat former members Potala Reddy, PLD Bank former chairperson Narasimha Reddy, Krishnegowda, Town Panchayat members Dwarakanath Naidu, and several local leaders too were present on the occasion.

New district chief

Talagavara Rajagopal of Chintamani has been selected Chikkaballapur district president of the JD(S), in place of M Rajanna of Shidlaghatta.

Rajagopal, who has been involved in political activities for four decades, had been mandal president for about 18 years, since 1978. He had also been elected Taluk Panchayat president at Chintamani. Having served as chairperson of the Kolar-Chikkaballapur District Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union Limited (Komul) in 1989 and 2007, Rajagopal is the current director of Komul.

This is his first appointment as district president of the party. The selection, however, has surprised many activists and leaders of the party in the district, including Rajagopal, who said the post came unexpected. “State leader H D Kumaraswamy had been making passing reference to the issue the last couple of months, but I had not expected to be given the post of the district president. The decision was taken at a meeting involving leaders and party activists on Friday.”

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Rajagopal said, “Having been given the responsibility of leading the party in Chikkaballapur just before the Assembly elections, I shall strive for the victory of all JD(S) candidates of in the district. We shall focus especially on working to ensure J K Krishna Reddy, senior member of the party from Chintamani, comes up trumps in the polls.”

Selection problems

Choice of the right candidate for the Assembly elections is giving rise to intense discussions and arguments among JD(S) members in Mulbagal constituency.

The choice of Munianjanappa as the official candidate of the party has been disapproved by Shivashankar, brother of former party leader the Late Alangur Srinivas. Leaders of the minority unit in the taluk unit of the JD(S) have decided to support only the candidate whose selection is sanctioned by Shivashankar.

Some of the leaders who attended a meeting of the party said Shivashankar is an influential leader of the JD(S) in the area and selection of a candidate for the Assembly elections. “Taking decisions without consulting him would mean a one-sided decision by the local leaders of the party,” they added.

They also decided to bring the matter to the notice of the State-level leaders of the JD(S) in Bangalore.

‘Sampangi not candidate’

Leaders of the BJP Kolar Gold Fields unit have objected to legislator Y Sampangi declaring himself the party’s official candidate from the constituency for the upcoming Assembly elections.

“The party is yet to declare any candidate from Kolar Gold Fields. A core committee meeting, chaired by the Chief Minister, was called at Bangalore on Wednesday to select the candidate, but no decision was arrived at due to differences in choice. The committee members instr­ucted Home Ministers Ashoka to call a meeting at taluk level to select the candidate,” said the leaders.

“The supporters of Sampangi have already burst crackers at Kolar Gold Fields and Bethamangala, indicating celebrations at his selection, which has not really happened. The local unit of the party disapproves such activities,” the leaders added.

“Lakshmaiah, district president of the BJP, who attended the committee meeting in Bangalore, was attacked by Sampangi’s supporters on Tuesday. Such activities too are utterly condemnable, especially since none of the supporters is a party activist but only displays brutality that puts the party in a state of embarrassment,” said leaders including Kolar Gold Fields Urban Development Authority president Vikramadityan, core committee member Naveenram, Zilla Panchayat member Mutyalamma, and Taluk Panchayat former president Teja.