The Hindu : Karnataka News : Fissures erupt in Bellary BJP

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Tuesday, Apr 22, 2008
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Karnataka

Fissures erupt in Bellary BJP

Staff Correspondent

This follows ‘nomination’ of Anand Singh as announced by Janardhan Reddy

HOSPET: Differences have emerged between leaders in the Bellary district Bharatiya Janata Party unit over the

announcement made by party leader and MLC Janardhan Reddy, with regard to the change in candidate to be fielded from the Vijayanagar constituency.

The BJP leaders and workers in Hospet city have taken strong exception to fielding Anand Singh, who joined the party recently, from the Vijayanagar constituency. Earlier, Bharamalingana Gowda, whose name had been cleared in the first list announced by the party, was to contest the polls. “I am surprised over the announcement made by Mr. Reddy,” Mr. Gowda said while talking to The Hindu here on Monday.

Poll campaign

Following the announcement, even Mr. Anand Singh has started his poll campaign. Voters and party workers, mostly supporters of Mr. Gowda, were in a state of confusion as to who the official candidate was.

Mr. Gowda said that senior party leaders at the State and Central levels had made it clear that there was no question of changing the candidate and had asked him to go ahead with campaigning.

‘Name cleared’

“My name was cleared in the first list. After this sudden development, I contacted the State unit president of the party D.V. Sadananda Gowda, the former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa and Arun Jaitley seeking a clarification. All of them made it clear that no such decision had been taken by the party, and that he (Gowda) was the official candidate,” he said.

To a question, Mr. Gowda, while making it clear that he was not opposed to Mr. Anand Singh joining the party, said he was at a loss to under stand why Mr. Reddy had made such an assessment. For, according to him, Mr. Reddy, along with other leaders, had forwarded his application to the State Parliamentary Committee and had asked him to go ahead with campaigning. About his future move,

Mr. Gowda said that in the absence of any communication from senior party leaders about the change in candidate, he would consider himself as the official one and file his nomination papers. “In case I am asked not to contest the polls, I will consult my party leaders, workers, supporters and well wishers, and abide by the decision taken,” he said.

‘Apprehensive’

Party leader Devaramane Srinivas said BJP workers were happy when Mr. Gowda was chosen to contest the polls and had already started working for his victory. He felt apprehensive that party workers in Hospet might protest in case his candidature was annulled.

Defeat

Mr. Srinivas said Mr. Anand Singh was responsible for the defeat of the former MLA Shankare Gowda, Mr. Gowda’s father, in the 2004 elections, when the former openly supported H.R. Gaviyappa, who had then contested as an independent.

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