Advantage DVS: BJP expects big win

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Karnataka Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda seems to be set for an easy victory over his Congress adversary, Anand Gaddadevaramath in Thursday’s crucial Legislative Council poll with five Independent legislators deciding to back him.

The contest has been made easier for the CM by the Vokkaliga dominated JD(S) which has 26 MLAs and has decided to play the ‘clan card’by abstaining from the poll process—which in effect means that the Congress candidate will have to be content with the 71 odd votes of his party MLAs.

The only source of worry for the BJP camp was the conspicious absence of party legislators from Bellary at the legislature party meeting at a resort in the city outskirts on Wednesday evening. Party leaders sounded confident that these legislators who are associated with the Reddy brothers-Sreeramulu combine, will not upset the BJP applecart nor do they have the numbers to do this.

So confident are BJP leaders of a victory that after holding two rounds of meetings, they and party legislators returned to the city instead of remaining holed up at the resort till Thursday morning when the poll is due.

Mr Sadananda Gowda and BJP state president, K.S. Eshwarappa told the legislators that the CM is sure to poll more votes than expected — because of the ‘unexpected support’ from some quarters including a section of Congress legislators.

The BJP leaders did not feel the absence of the three Bellary MLAs — T.H. Suresh Babu, B. Nagendra and Somashekar Reddy — whose suspension was recently revoked by the party, could pose a serious threat to Sadananda Gowda’s chances. “They have assured us that they will join us Thursday morning,” party sources said.

These legislators are expected to arrive for the voting along with Independent member, B. Sreeramulu who is likely to vote for the CM despite quiting the BJP a month ago. Party sources said the three MLAs actually met Mr Sadananda Gowda at his residence late Wednesday night.

Former CM, B.S. Yeddyurappa told the legislators that they should vote without fail.

CM frowns on resort politics

Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda minced no words in condemning ‘resort politics’ employed by his partymen on the eve of the bypoll to the Legislative Council. Mr Gowda, who appealed to all 225 legislators to participate in voting on Thursday, denounced the strategy of ferrying party legislators to a resort to ensure that they vote for the party candidate.

All BJP legislators ought to take pride in the ideology of the party and turn up to vote for its candidate rather than drive to resorts to be told that they should participate in the election, he added.