Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Apr 22: Dr Arun, son of former minister, V Somanna, who got ticket to fight from Arasikere assembly constituency in Hassan district on behalf of BJP by pestering the leaders for the same through his father, is now backing out from the election.

BJP workers from this constituency rue the fact that both Dr Arun and Somanna are not available for contact by phone since Dr Arun announced as official candidate of the party. They have been getting 'switched off' messages continuously, it is learnt.

Dr Arun has reportedly opted out on grounds that he prefers to contest from an urban seat. 

Somanna has been the ticket from Govindarajanagar constituency in the city. It is said that Somanna, who also has got tickets for his loyalists, H Raveendra in Vijayanagar and M Lakshminarayan from Champarajpet constituencies, is said to be in two minds as he finds the time too short to visit Arasikere regularly to ensure success of his son. It is also said that Somanna was uncertain about getting ticket for his son till last minute as a local candidate was steadfastly opposing this proposal. Otherwise, he would have done enough ground work in the constituency by now.

B K Manjunath, BJP candidate from Sira, following in the footsteps of Dr M R Hulinaikar, BJP candidate from Madhugiri constituency on Tumakuru district, has decided not to fight the election. He has also written a letter to Yeddyurappa in this connection. He said that although he was asked to collect B form from the office on April 18, no such thing happened when he visited the party office. Therefore he said he decided against fighting the election in consultation with his supporters.