Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Nov 11: The disqualified legislators, who are faced with the need to race against time and at the same time, to wait for the Supreme Court to deliver its judgement on their petition on November 13, are worried as they do not have any inkling of what is in store for them, and also about the rebellion against them within the BJP.

These legislators also have to be ready with an alternative plan if their disqualification by the assembly speaker is upheld by the top court. The Congress has already come out with its list of nominations for eight out of the 15 assembly constituencies where bypoll is being held. BJP is not in a position to decide about its candidates now as everything depends on Supreme Court judgement.

The situation within the Congress and the JD(S) is no better. They too are finding it hard to announce the candidates as their hopes also hinge on last-minute defection by BJP leaders for not being able to get party tickets. The Congress, which announced names of eight candidates long back, has been waiting for the Supreme Court judgement for announcing the remaining candidates.

Although the BJP plans to field the disqualified legislators from their respective constituencies, there is no official word about it as it can go against the party in the Supreme Court. Therefore, the BJP leaders have decided to discuss this issue after Wednesday. If the judgement favours the disqualified legislators, the party has four days to decide on the issue.

It is said that the BJP leaders have assured the disqualified legislators that they will back them irrespective of what the judgement will be.

In the meanwhile, taking a cue from the behaviour of BJP leaders, two BJP leaders met D K Shivakumar at his residence on Sunday morning and held discussions with him. Raju Kage, who had been fielded by the BJP last time from Kagwad constituency and was defeated, and Ashok Poojari, who had plans to contest from Gokak constituency on a BJP ticket, met Shivakumar. Both of them are almost certain that the BJP does not plan to field them from these constituencies. This matter came up for discussions at the meeting of Congress party at Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee on Sunday. As the party is facing a dearth of capable candidates, the consensus there was to admit leaders from the BJP if they accept the policies and principles of the Congress when seeking admission into the party, it is learnt.