Ahead of the crucial Legislative Council election, newly-elected Independent MLA B. Sreeramulu announced that he will meet JD(S) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda in Bengaluru on Monday to hold discussions on the subject.
Speaking to reporters at Honnali village after offering a “chadar” to popular Honnur Vali Shah Darga on Sunday, Mr Sreermulu said he was meeting the veteran politician to convey his gratitude for extending JD(S) support to him in the fiercely fought Bellary ST seat byelection and to seek his blessings. However, sources said that the Council election will top his agenda during the meeting with Mr Gowda.
Mr Sreeramulu had won the Bellary bypoll by a huge margin of 46,000 votes with the BJP candidate Gadi Lingapa even losing his deposit. Political circles are abuzz with rumours about what is likely to transpire at the meeting and felt some hush-hush deal was in the offing which would not be revealed now.
Reacting to a question on whether former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa had approached him seeking the support of his faction for chief minister Sadananda Gowda, Mr Sreeramulu replied that he had the support of 22 BJP MLAs but “neither Yeddyurappa nor any other BJP leader had approached him so far”.
“I have already declared that I will vote against the BJP candidate, D.V. Sadananda Gowda, in the Council poll but that does not mean I intend to topple this government,” he said.
Reiterating that he had advised MLAs supporting him to act within the framework of the law in the Council elections, he said: “I told my supporters who have been elected on the BJP symbol, not to invite legal trouble since the BJP will be issuing whip to all MLAs, including those suspended during the Bellary ST seat election.” The whip means that MLAs who vote against the party nominee would invite severe action, including disqualification.