Mysore, Bangalore, August 2, 2013: While the ruling Congress party is still weighing options, Karnataka Janatha Party (KJP) has decided to field its city unit president and realtor U S Shekar in the by-election to Legislative Council from Mysore-Chamarajanagar districts local bodies seat.
This follows a meeting presided over by the former chief minister and party president B S Yeddyurappa at a hotel in the city on Friday.
Disclosing this to the media, Yeddyurappa exuded confidence that the party will win the seat in the election scheduled on August 22. Besides, the party would field its nominees in Chitradurga and Dharwad too, while it would refrain from contesting the by-polls to the Parliament from Mandya and Bangalore rural constituencies. However, the party will decide on the party to support in the Lok Sabha by-polls, by August 3 (Saturday), Yeddyurappa clarified.
On the future plans, Yeddyurappa said that the party was open for tie up with any “like-minded” party. He reiterated that no BJP leaders have held talks with him for an understanding with his (KJP) party.
Earlier, former minister and KJP leader Shobha Karandlaje said that KJP would not be merged with BJP. It had been decided to strengthen the party further.
Contenders
Shekar emerged as a candidate among three strong aspirants. KJP district unit president B M Ramu and leader K P Mahadeva Swamy had been vying for the candidature ever since the polls was announced. Though the name of former MLC K R Mallikarjunappa (who had earlier successfully contested on BJP ticket from the same constituency, only to quit the party during the recent Assembly polls) was also doing rounds, Mallikarjunappa is learnt to have cleared the air by expressing his disinterest to contest again.
Shekar who is a realtor by profession, had tried hard for the JD(S) ticket to contest the high-voltage by-polls to Chamundeshwari Assembly constituency against Congress’ Siddaramaiah. He later switched over to BJP and followed Yeddyurappa into KJP fold.
Before finalising the name of Shekar, Yeddyurappa held two rounds of meetings with the leaders after his arrival in the city on Thursday night.
Female candidate
At BJP, though the newly elected general secretary of city unit Yashaswini Somashekar is most likely to be a candidate, former Kollegal MLA G N Nanjunda Swamy has made it a bit interesting by throwing his hat in the ring. Kashi Vishwanatha Shetty too has continued to impress the bosses. It is being speculated that Mysore district Congress rural wing president R Dharmasena could be the Congress’ candidate.
