Daijiworld Media Network – Shimoga (SP)

Shimoga, Aug 20: Just two days before the bypoll being held for Shikaripur assembly constituency, JD(S) 'candidate', Gulihatti Shekhar, 'withdrew' from the fray in favour of Congress candidate, Shantaveerappa Gowda. He made this announcement at a press conference held at the district Congress office here on Tuesday August 19 evening. However, JD(S) has not fielded any candidate in any of three constituencies where bypolls are taking place.

'I have taken this decision as per consultations held with chief minister, Siddaramaiah, minister, H C Mahadevappa, and friends, Shivaraj Tangadagi, Narendra Swamy, and Sudhakar,' he claimed. He also sought to explain that he had decided to pay back for the favours received from the Lingayat leaders for blessing him when he fought election for Hosdurga seat in 2008, and therefore, had withdrawn in favour of Shantaveerappa, a Lingayat leader of eminence.

He said that his fans and friends had built a strong team of supporters at booth level and that all these activists will be approaching voters with a request to pool their votes in support of Congress party. He said when he was a minister in the BJP government, his loyalty was for the state and not to BJP. He said the decision to withdraw from the field was taken on his own accord.

In his address, Gulihatti restrained from mentioning the name of Yeddyurappa. When questioned whether he wanted to settle scores against Yeddyurappa, he said he was not in political field to settle personal scores. When questioned about his political loyalty, he said he had resigned from JD(S), and is yet to properly think about joining Congress. 'Lets see how the situation develops,' he concluded.

Udupi: 'Will end Yeddy's family politics in Shikaripur' – Sorake

Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Aug 20: 'Former state chief minister, Yeddyurappa, has been representing Shikaripur constituency since several years. He got elected there every time, bagged different posts before being elevated as the state chief minister. By indulging in corruption and getting jailed, he has insulted the voters of that constituency. This time around, he has fielded his son for the bypoll. However, we are determined to put an end to the family politics of Yeddyurappa there,' stressed state urban development minister, Vinay Kumar Sorake.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday August 19, Sorake recalled that the margin of defeat for the Congress candidate last time at Shikaripur stood at 12,000. 'During the previous election, a JD(S) candidate was also in the fray. However, in this bypoll, JD(S) has not fielded any candidate, and JD(S) activists are working for Congress victory. We are seeking votes from the people there on the basis of various programmes of the state government,' he explained.

Reacting to the allegations of misuse of administrative machinery levelled by the opposition, Sorake reiterated that he had visited that constituency not in the capacity of the state minister, but as MLA and party activist. 'I am aware that I cannot get involved with electioneering as a minister. In the past, when BJP was in power, the entire team of minister had canvassed for the bypoll,' he claimed.

When questioned about creating the post of the deputy chief minister in the state, the minister said that a decision on this issue will be taken by the Congress high command, and that president of the party, Sonia Gandhi, vice president, Rahul Gandhi, and state in-charge, Digvijay Singh, will hold discussions and take a final decision.