BJP to switch into next gear as BS Yeddyurappa will hit the campaign trail for the Bellary Rural assembly by-poll.
Embarrassed by the continued participation of several BJP MLAs in campaigning for Independent candidate Sriramulu for the Bellary Rural assembly by-poll, BJP state president KS Eshwarappa on Sunday breathed fire at the ‘rebels’.
“Campaign for BJP candidate Gadi Lingappa or get out of the party. Our MLAs, Somashekara Reddy, B Nagendra and Suresh Babu, have been found campaigning for Sriramulu, thus defying my instructions. Those who are elected on our party symbol should resign from their assembly membership if they want to campaign for our rival,” said Eshwarappa.
He hoped better sense would prevail on these MLAs and they would fall in line. “Only a few Bellary MLAs are with Sriramulu. Already, MLA Anand Singh is campaigning for the party candidate. More local MLAs will turn up for campaigning in the coming days,” added Eshwarappa.
Chief minister DV Sadananda Gowda, too, advocated a strong action against BJP leaders joining hands with Sriramulu. Eshwarappa would take disciplinary action against them, he said.
Eshwarappa, who has camped in Bellary, is leading the campaign along with law and parliamentary affairs minister Suresh Kumar and energy minister Shobha Karandlaje. They addressed several street-corner public meetings as they moved from village to village, seeking votes for Lingappa.
The BJP has ensured the participation of municipal administration minister Balachandra Jharkiholi, a close associate of the Bellary brothers, in the campaigning. “Yes, Sriramulu is a close friend. But I can’t betray my party. It is my duty to campaign for my party candidate,” said Jharkiholi.
The BJP’s campaign is set to switch into a higher gear from Monday as former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa is expected to hit the campaign trail. He is scheduled to camp in Bellary till November 23 during the first round of the campaign and return on November 25 for the second round.
Gowda, too, is expected to arrive on Tuesday. Gowda and Yeddyurappa’s presence is expected to boost the BJP cadre’s morale as Sriramulu is running a high-pitch campaigning with his followers going from door to door, seeking votes for their leader.
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