BSY meets Krishna as BJP plays cards close to its chest

BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa held talks with former union minister S M Krishna on Saturday on the Lok Sabha elections and especially the contest in the Vokkaliga bastion of Mandya where the party is undecided on fielding a candidate.

Krishna, a former chief minister who was with the Congress earlier, has agreed to campaign for the saffron party in Mandya, Udupi-Chikmagalur, Hassan, Shimoga, Chitradurga, Kolar and Bangalore (North, South and Central) seats.

The BJP is slated to hold its core committee meeting on Sunday, where it is expected to discuss a host of topics concerning the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, including strategy for the Mandya seat.

A curious contest is in the works at Mandya, where the JD(S) has fielded Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy’s son Nikhil. However, late Congress leader and actor Ambareesh’s wife Sumalatha is also keen on contesting, but the Congress has denied her a ticket since Mandya has been ceded to the JD(S) as part of the alliance. Sumalatha will decide on contesting as an independent on March 18.

“Krishna has provided his suggestions. We will decide on what to do based on Sumalatha’s decision,” Yeddyurappa told reporters. Sumalatha has already held talks with Krishna, a Vokkaliga, who is a native of Mandya.

Will not contest, says SMK

Former union minister S M Krishna on Saturday said he will not contest the polls, ending speculation that the BJP was considering fielding him from the Vokkaliga-dominated old Mysore region.

“Campaigning is also a form of politics,” Krishna said when asked if he will enter electoral politics again. “No, I will not contest,” he said.