To ensure the defeat of Congress rebels from Bengaluru who were responsible for the fall of the HD Kumaraswamy-led coalition government, the Karnataka Congress plans to approach BJP leader Sharath Bache Gowda to contest as an independent from Hoskote to take on MTB Nagaraj, field Poornima Suresh, the wife of Hebbal MLA Byrathi Suresh from KR Puram and HC Balakrishna to contest from Mahalakshmipuram and Priya Krishna from RR Nagar to take on Munirathna Naidu in by-polls
Bengaluru: Unable to digest the rebel Congress leaders MTB Nagaraj from Hoskote, Byrathi Basavaraj (KR Puram), ST Somashekhar (Yeshwanthpur) and RR Nagar former MLA Munirathna Naidu's alleged role in conspiring against the Congress-JD(S) coalition government, the Karnataka Congress and Siddaramaiah are planning to teach a lesson to these leaders and scuttle their political growth.
To ensure the defeat to Siddaramaiah’s most trusted man, Nagaraj, former housing minister, Congress is said to have decided to field a 'weak' candidate and approach BJP leader and defeated candidate in previous Assembly election Sharath Bache Gowda to contest as an independent in case the BJP approves Nagaraj's candidacy.
When asked about this, BN Bache Gowda, the Chikkaballapur MP, and father of Sharath, he said, "I am the BJP MP and my son is a BJP leader and where is the question of any other leader contesting from the BJP for Hoskote by-election. I heard about Byrathi Basavaraj's wife contesting from KR Puram. All these news stories are far from truth."
Similarly, another ultra-rich politician and cousin of Basavaraj, Byrathi Suresh's wife Poornima Suresh has been selected to take on Basavaraj from KR Puram. Basavaraj is likely to field his wife.
To make sure permutations and combinations of man and muscle power gets matched to take on Munirathna Naidu in RR Nagar, a prime real estate booming Assembly segment, the Congress is all set to make two-time MLA from Govindraj Nagar Assembly segment Priya Krishna as its choice.
Speaking to MyNation, Priya said he is not aware of any such development and said even he heard about his name being floated from RR Nagar and also from Yeshwanthpur. "All these news stories that are appearing are speculative ones."
As there is no much base for the Congress in Mahalakshmipuram which is considered as rebel JD(S) leader and two-time MLA K Gopalaiah's fortress than the party, the Congress is likely to experiment by placing another Vokkaliga (second dominant community of state) and two-time MLA from Magadi HC Balakrishna.
Although none from both the Congress or the JD(S) high command have commented on the possible developments, deputy mayor and JD(S) leader Bhadre Gowda who will be party's face Gopalaiah in by-election said, "I did not rebel against the party anytime, I was with the JD(S) even when he (Gopalaiah) favoured the Congress during Rajya Sabha election (2016) cross-voting, if the high command decides that I have to contest, then I will, if any other name comes up, I will work for that candidate."
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