BJP, Cong strategise for Kundgol, Chincholi bypoll

The BJP and the Congress huddled up Thursday to discuss the crucial byelections to the Chincholi and Kundgol Assembly constituencies, with both parties vowing to win them.

It is learnt that the BJP core committee has recommended to its central leadership that Ramachandra Jadhav be fielded from Chincholi (SC reserve) and Chikkangoudar Siddanagouda Ishwargouda for Kundgol. Ramachandra is the brother of Umesh Jadhav, the rebel Congressman who resigned as Chincholi MLA thus necessitating this bypoll. After resigning, Umesh joined the BJP and contested as the party’s candidate in the Gulbarga Lok Sabha segment. Apparently, giving the ticket to his brother was part of a deal he has struck with the BJP before he came onboard.

In Kundgol, Ishwargouda emerged as the frontrunner for the BJP ticket since he had lost the Assembly polls last year by a narrow margin of 634 votes against Congress’ C S Shivalli, whose death necessitated the bypoll.

The BJP also named senior leaders as election in-charge for both the seats - Jagadish Shettar, K S Eshwarappa, Govind Karjol, Pralhad Joshi for Kundgol. V Somanna, Laxman Savadi, N Ravikumar, Malikayya Guttedar and Baburao Chinchansur for Chincholi.

“We’ve recommended one name each for both the constituencies to Delhi (party central leadership). The candidates will be announced in Delhi,” BJP state president BS Yeddyurappa told reporters. The BJP core committee also discussed the Lok Sabha polls and Yeddyurappa reiterated that the BJP would win 22 out of 28 seats.

The Congress, too, held talks with leaders on finalising candidates for the bypolls. In Kundgol, late Shivalli’s wife Kusuma is said to be in the forefront of the ticket race.

Also, there are 4-5 ticket aspirants for Chincholi. “Chincholi and Kundgol are Congress seats. We will do whatever it takes to win both seats. Candidates will be announced (on Friday) after a discussion with the high command,” Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Dinesh Gundu Rao said.