LS bypoll: BJP springs a surprise in Mandya

The BJP is likely to field Siddaramaiah, a retired additional commissioner of Commercial Taxes, as its candidate in the Mandya Lok Sabha bypolls.

Siddaramaiah, who hails from a family of politicians, joined the BJP in presence of former deputy chief minister R Ashoka in Bengaluru on Thursday. The move was unexpected and even took several leaders in the BJP by surprise.

Siddaramaiah’s uncle B Doddaboregowda was elected MLA from Srirangapatna (Ind-1967) and Mandya (JNP-1983). According to BJP functionaries, the family has got a good and clean reputation in Mandya.

He is likely to be given the ticket by the party to contest from the constituency. Siddaramaiah has also served as secretary of the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission.

It will be battle of former officers in Mandya if the JD(S) gives the ticket to former IRS officer Lakshmi Ashwini Gowda. The bypolls are scheduled for November 3.