HDK fends off Sriramulu overtures

Distraught over the pathetic performance of his party in the urban local body elections, B Sriramulu of the BSR Congress Party on Saturday made another attempt to forge an electoral alliance with the JD(S) by meeting its State president H D Kumaraswamy.

Those privy to the meeting between the two leaders said Kumaraswamy had not evinced much interest in having an alliance with the BSR Congress. This is the second time Sriramulu is meeting the JD(S) leader in recent times.

Sources said Kumaraswamy was of the view that an alliance with the BSR Congress would be of no use to his party because Sriramulu’s party had not been able to make inroads in his own home district of Bellary.

No support

In Bellary, too, Sriramulu has not been able to keep his network active. After losing the ULB polls badly, he has not visited his Bellary Rural constituency, it is said.

The JD(S) had not fielded candidates when Sriramulu had contested the by-election to the Assembly in 2011. And, Zameer Ahmed Khan of the JD(S) had campaigned for Sriramulu. This had led to speculations that the JD(S) would stand by the BSR Congress.

Now, there are rumours that BJP MLA Somashekara Reddy, brother of the jailed former minister Janardhana Reddy, may seek ticket from the BJP to contest from Bellary city.