BJP in search of Sriramulu’s alternative

Express News

Bangalore, 09 November 2011: Even as uncertainty over whether or not former minister B Sriramulu will contest on a BJP ticket is continuing, the BJP election committee will be meeting on Wednesday morning to decide its candidate for Bellary bypoll to be held on November 30. The party had given Sriramulu time till Wednesday morning to make his stand clear. Also, the party has started the process of identifying an alternate candidate in the event Sriramulu rejects a party ticket.

 

Names of Nettakallappa, former Bellary ZP president and K V Nagendra are doing rounds.

 

Sriramulu to go independent?

 

Bellary, 09 November 2011: Former health minister B Sriramulu is likely to contest the election to Bellary Rural Assembly seat as an Independent. Sriramulu’s close friend G Janardhana Reddy, during their meeting in Chanchalguda jail in Hyderabad on Tuesday, is said to have advised the former health minister to contest as an Independent.

 

Accordingly, Sriramulu is likely file his nomination papers on Wednesday as an Independent candidate.

 

Meanwhile, Sriramulu’s meeting with Minister Jagadish Shettar has given rise to speculation in various political circles.

 

Shettar, who was once touted as a chief ministerial candidate by the Reddy faction, still enjoys the confidence of the former Bellary ministers.

 

The party election observers, camping in Bellary and waiting to meet the disgruntled leader, are still hopeful of persuading Sriramulu not to contest as an Independent.