The Hindu : Karnataka News : Set-back to Congress in Mandya

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Wednesday, Apr 23, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Set-back to Congress in Mandya

Staff Correspondent

Those denied ticket may join the BJP which has made them an offer
They are holding meetings under the leadership of G. Made Gowda

MANDYA: The Congress seems to be in trouble in Mandya. In what could be described as a major set-back to the party’s efforts to regain control of the Cauvery heartland, the party leaders, who were denied ticket, are likely to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has reportedly offered ticket to them, on Wednesday.

However, the disgruntled ticket aspirants are not letting the cat out of the bag and are holding meetings under the leadership of the former MP and Cauvery Raitha Hitarakshana Samithi president, G. Made Gowda, ever since the Congress’ first list was announced.

Barring the former Minister, M.S. Atmananda, who was denied ticket for Mandya, the former MLAs, Kempe Gowda, B. Prakash, Madhu Made Gowda and Narendra Swamy, are set to join the BJP. They are upset with the Congress for denying ticket to them despite serving the party for many years.

Mr. Atmananda disclosed to The Hindu that he has decided not to contest the coming elections and remain with the Congress. “It is a conscious decision and I will come out with the reasons shortly,” he said.

Surprisingly, L.R. Shivarame Gowda, who was fuming at the party for denying him ticket for Nagamangala, seems to have been persuaded by the Congress as he has remained silent on the issue since Monday. According to reports, the BJP has announced ticket for Mr. Kempe Gowda and Mr. Prakash for Melkote and K.R. Pet constituencies respectively.

Madhu Made Gowda, son of G. Made Gowda, has been offered BJP ticket from Maddur. Narendra Swamy is likely to enter the fray from Malavalli (Reserved) constituency as the BJP candidate.

The four leaders will be welcomed into the BJP in the presence of the former Union Minister, Arun Jaitley, and the former Chief Minister, B.S. Yeddyurappa, in Bangalore on Wednesday.

Political circles are abuzz with the talk that Mr. Atmananda and Mr. Madhu Made Gowda may decide against joining the BJP if the Congress fields the former Chief Minister, S.M. Krishna, from Maddur. There has been dissatisfaction against the candidature of D.C. Thammanna from Maddur.

Revolt

Meanwhile, Ravindra Srikantaiah may enter the fray in Srirangapatna as a rebel candidate as the Congress is said to have withdrawn his candidature in favour of Union Minister M.H. Ambareesh. Mr. Ravindra Srikantaiah’s supporters were lathicharged by the police in Srirangapatna on Monday when they blocked the highway in protest against the Congress move to give ticket to Mr. Ambareesh, who is filing his nomination papers on Wednesday.

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