Bengaluru: Leaders of Congress and Janata Dal (S) gave all indications that they will pull out all the stops in Bangalore (rural) and Mandya Lok Sabha constituencies as the bypolls scheduled for August 21 are being perceived as the semi-finals ahead of next year's general elections. 
Though the term of winners in either of these seats will be nine months or less, leaders of both parties put up a show of strength as their candidates-former minister D K Shivakumar's brother D K Suresh and actress Ramya (both Congress) and leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly H.D. Kumaraswamy's wife Anitha and former legislator C S Puttaraju (both JD (S)) submitted their nomination papers on Saturday.
While these bypolls are a litmus test for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his three-month-old government, leaders of JD (S) are keen to retain these seats, both dominated by Vokkaligas, ahead of Lok Sabha elections in 2014. The upshot: a battle royale will be on cards for both these seats, with the BJP set to put up only a symbolic fight. 
Next: ‘Masses will win over money’

‘Masses will win over money’
Bengaluru: The  Lok Sabha by-polls to Bengaluru Rural and Mandya, billed only days ago as 'unwarranted' elections by parties in the state, have taken on the proportions of a battle royale with both the Congress and JD(S) parties mobilising thousands of workers when their candidates filed nominations at the Deputy Commissioner's office in Ramanagar district on Saturday.
With the Congress leader, D.K. Suresh filing his nomination and JD(S) choosing to field, Anita Kumarswamy on Saturday from Bengaluru Rural Lok Sabha, traditional political  rivals will be locking their horns after nearly a gap of 11 years.
Former minister and Vokkaliga strongman in Congress party, D. K. Shivakumar is seen as a traditional rival to the Vokkaliga community's uncrowned prince, Leader of the opposition, H.D. Kumaraswamy, who has led the Vokkaliga community by the side of his father and former prime minister, H.D. Deve Gowda. Shivakumar had contested Lok Sabha by-polls against Gowda in 2002 but lost to him.
This time, Shivakumar has fielded his younger brother Suresh against Anitha Kumarswamy, pulled out all the stops to mobilise nearly 10,000 workers who accompanied, Suresh, with much fanfare. While, Kumaraswamy, too was accompanied by more or less a similar size, it did not have the noise and pomp that the Congress put on. 
Later talking to reporters, HDK termed the by-poll as a fight between money power (of D.K. Shivakumar) and power of masses. Kumaraswamy said that people would repose confidence in Anitha once again. He dismissed  the suggestion that the family had neglected the constituency.
Next: Day ends in tragedy for Ramya

Day ends in tragedy for Ramya
S.V. Krishna Chaitanya | DC
Mandya: What should have been a high point for popular actress Ramya ended in tragedy and tears on Saturday as moments after she filed her nominations for the crucial Mandya seat, she lost her father R T Narayan who succumbed to a massive heart attack.
The actress, a Youth Congress member, was making her political debut as Congress candidate from Mandya Lok Sabha constituency, which goes to the polls on August 21, Narayan, 74, who was standing close by at the Mandya Deputy Commis­sioner's Office on Saturday afternoon, while his daughter addressed the press and her fans, collapsed and was immediately rushed to a private hospital. He didn't respond to treatment and was declared dead by doctors. Narayan, is said to have a medical history.
Hailing from an Iyengar Brahmin family, the unm­arried Narayan reportedly cared for Ramya since she was a child, and with whom he shares a very special bond.
Next: Ramya moves from films to fray

Ramya moves from films to fray
S.V. Krishna Chaitanya I DC
Mandya: As this newspaper had noted, the Congress leadership fielded famed Kannada film star and Youth Congress member Divya Spandana, popularly known by her stage name 'Ramya' for Mandya Lok Sabha by-election.
She filed her nomination papers on Saturday afternoon, minutes before the deadline ended. Being a prestigious constituency in the Vokkaliga heartland, the Congress leadership handpicked the 31-year-old actress as a neutral, some said a "compromise" candidate between the two 'rival' factions led by former Chief Minister S.M. Krishna and Mandya in-charge Minister M.H. Ambareesh.
The Congress can only make inroads and compete against the formidable JD(S), when its leaders put up a united fight. Though the personal differences between Krishna and Ambareesh have not been resolved completely, both leaders seemed pleased with the candidature of Ramya after former MP G. Made Gowda refused to contest.
Ambareesh described Ramya as "a neutral candidate" and said that her entering fray had "nullified" all the differences within the party. "Ramya entry is a breath of fresh air. I am confident that the entire Mandya Congress unit and the party as a whole will back her and ensure victory".
Though, it is the first electoral battle for Ramya, her body language was confident. Dressed in a cream and white salwar kameez, Ramya went around the premises of Deputy Commissioner's Office after filing papers and shook hands with the hundreds of fans.
Speaking to DC before leaving the office and smiling broadly, Ramya said she didn't lobby for the Congress ticket and that she was contesting at the behest of CM Siddaramaiah, KPCC chief G. Parameshwar, Krishna and Ambareesh.
"They asked me to contest," she said, adding “It's a great honor and I will strive hard to meet expectations. Yes, I don't have the experience, but there are good and honest people around me to guide me".