BANGALORE: An unyielding contest is likely to be witnessed in the prestigious by-elections to the Bellary Rural constituency where former BJP leader Sriramulu is challenging mainstream political parties as an independent.The campaign is gaining momentum as leaders of the BJP and Congress are jumping into the campaign trail amidst rumours that many of the local stalwarts of both parties are switching sides.The Opposition Congress campaign was led by the Rajya Sabha member Anil Lad and was ably assisted by veteran party leader K C Kondaiah for their candidate Ramprasad, who had lost the 2008 election. The Congress campaign is gaining momentum with the participation of Union Labour Minister Mallikarjuna Kharge.Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President Dr G Parameshwar was present amongst hundreds of party activists when party candidate Ramprasad filed his nomination papers before the returning officer and dug his heel in Bellary steering the party’s campaign.The people of Bellary who were bombarded with the mining dust all these days, are now experiencing the onslaught of the political storm of wind. The Congress campaign would get more teeth when the battery of other leaders including Opposition leader in the Karnataka Assembly Siddaramaiah, Smt Motamma, C M Ibrahim, former CM N Dharam Singh and host of other stalwarts in the state.All does not seem to be well with the Congress which is leaving no stone unturned for the success of the party candidate as already fissures are appearing in its camp. One of the strongmen in the district unit and former minister Diwakar Babu who is reportedly not happy with the selection of the party candidate was conspicuously absent in the campaign trail amidst the reports that he is likely to cross over to the BJP.The party candidate Ramprasad had lost the previous election contesting against the strong BJP candidate Sriramulu with a huge margin of over 30,000 votes. The only solace for the party in the 2008 election was that its candidate had managed to retain the deposit.Speaking to Express the KPCC president Dr G Parameshwar has said with the changed political circumstances things have not remained the same and a new wind is blowing in favour of the party. “With the changed political circumstances, the party candidate would turn the table against the Opposition this time,” he said.It may be recalled that Bellary district was a Congress bastion for over five decades and had also elected AICC general secretary Sonia Gandhi in the 1999 Lok Sabha election. When Sonia retained her Amethi seat the people of Bellary choose Congress candidate Kolur Basavanagouda in the by-elections held later to the Lok Sabha.The party has started receding its base to BJP with the increased clout of the Reddy brothers including Janardhana Reddy and Karunakara Reddy and B Sriramulu.
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