Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Apr 6: It is likely that BJP and JD(S) has entered a ‘secret pact’ to defeat chief minister Siddaramaiah who will contest from Chamundeshwari constituency and his son Dr Yathindra who will contest from Varuna constituency.
According to political analysts, JD(S) is planning to field political heavyweight and current Chamundeshwari MLA G T Devegowda against Siddaramaiah. BJP may help JD(S) by fielding a weak candidate in Chamundeshwari and JD(S) may return the favour in Varuna.
It may be a battle between the sons, with BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa's son B Y Vijayendra most likely to take on Dr Yathindra in Varuna.
Though BJP and JD(S) have refuted alliance rumours, strategies are being planned to defeat their common foe Congress.
It is said that V Srinivas Prasad of BJP and A H Vishwanath of JD(S) who quit Congress last year after fall out with Siddaramaiah, are meeting with G T Devegowda to chalk out plans to ensure Siddaramaiah’s defeat.
Vishwanath in an interview with a TV channel had said that Chamundeshwari won’t be easy for Siddaramaiah. "Hubris will finish him. He thinks too much of himself," he had said.
Risk or political suicide?
To make it easy for his son to enter the state Assembly, Siddaramaiah gave up his safe seat in Varuna and returned to his old seat in Chamundeshwari. However, many are pointing out that it is a huge mistake and the CM’s decision could be a political suicide.
When Siddaramaiah visited villages in Chamundeshwari constituency, the voters were not very welcoming and questioned him about lack of development, sources said. When he blamed the incumbent MLA GT Devegowda, they defended him by saying that it was his responsibility as CM to release funds.
Chamundeshwari has 72,000 Vokkaligas and 30,000 Lingayat votes. The backward classes, Muslims, SC/STs together have over a lac votes. Siddaramaiah has won five times from Chamundeshwari between 1983 and 2008. First time as an independent, second time from Janata Party, third time on Janata Dal, fourth time on JD(S) and the last time on Congress ticket.
Siddaramaiah is also said to be wooing voters with sentiments, asking their support for his last election.