<p>Two-time MLA C S Puttaraju is yet to digest his embarrassing defeat in the Assembly elections. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Regardless, the party gave him a second chance and fielded him in the Lok Sabha byelection. Puttaraju told Deccan Herald that he considers this a “major blessing”. <br /><br />He exuded confidence that this time around, JD(S)’ prospects in his own constituency - Melukote - had changed, giving him an edge. <br /><br />With the BJP and KJP extending support to his party, Puttaraju said Congress’ prospects of winning the elections looked bleak. <br /><br />“Look at the candidate the party has chosen. People of Mandya do not want film actors. They want committed leaders who can represent them effectively in Parliament. <br /><br />The people have already taught a lesson to Ambareesh in both the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, as he has never been accessible. Similar will be Ramya’s fate. The Congress has, in fact, made her a scapegoat. This might even ruin her film career,” he said.<br /><br />Puttaraju also said Ramya’s foster father R T Narayan had wished that he should win. <br /><br />“Just a week before his death, Narayan and I had a conversation during our train journey to Mysore. He had congratulated me and told me that he wanted me to win, as there was no unity in Congress. Little did he know that his daughter would be chosen as the Congress candidate,” he said.</p>
<p>Two-time MLA C S Puttaraju is yet to digest his embarrassing defeat in the Assembly elections. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Regardless, the party gave him a second chance and fielded him in the Lok Sabha byelection. Puttaraju told Deccan Herald that he considers this a “major blessing”. <br /><br />He exuded confidence that this time around, JD(S)’ prospects in his own constituency - Melukote - had changed, giving him an edge. <br /><br />With the BJP and KJP extending support to his party, Puttaraju said Congress’ prospects of winning the elections looked bleak. <br /><br />“Look at the candidate the party has chosen. People of Mandya do not want film actors. They want committed leaders who can represent them effectively in Parliament. <br /><br />The people have already taught a lesson to Ambareesh in both the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, as he has never been accessible. Similar will be Ramya’s fate. The Congress has, in fact, made her a scapegoat. This might even ruin her film career,” he said.<br /><br />Puttaraju also said Ramya’s foster father R T Narayan had wished that he should win. <br /><br />“Just a week before his death, Narayan and I had a conversation during our train journey to Mysore. He had congratulated me and told me that he wanted me to win, as there was no unity in Congress. Little did he know that his daughter would be chosen as the Congress candidate,” he said.</p>
