Bangalore, Aug 12, 2013:Former MLA from Rajarajeshwari Nagar, M Srinivas of the BJP, has decided to throw his weight behind D K Suresh, brother of former minister D K Shivakumar and the Congress candidate for the bypoll to the Bangalore Rural Lok Sabha seat.
Srinivas told Deccan Herald, “I am indebted to Shivakumar and Suresh for their support during my candidature from the Kanakapura Lok Sabha constituency in 1998. I will repay my debt this time.” Srinivas and his son Venkatesh Babu, the corporator from Kottigepalya ward, will take a formal decision on quitting the BJP in two days.
The BJP, however, decided to ignore Srinivas’ rebellion and did not take it ‘seriously’ at its core committee meeting on Monday.
“The party is trying to target me. I strived for the party over the past five years and brought the entire Uttarahalli region under the BJP, along with my supporters. When I sought the ticket for the Assembly poll, they sought Rs two crore from me. When I refused to pay the sum, they fielded another person. For so long, the party had been stating that they will not enter into an alliance with the JD(S). Finally, they withdrew the candidates from the bypoll fray. The BJP is into adjustment politics,” he said.
He alleged that former minister R Ashoka was instrumental in forging the BJP-JD(S) alliance. He said if the BJP continues in this direction, it may retain only 15 or 20 seats in the next Assembly polls.
