Bengaluru (DHNS): Disgruntled MLAs feel JD(S) move to field Muslims will split votes. Disgruntled JD(S) MLAs B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan (Chamarajpet) and Iqbal Ansari (Gangavati) are learnt to have extended their indirect support to the Congress candidates in the byelections to Hebbal and Devadurga Assembly constituencies.

Sources in the party said the MLAs have sent out a message to their followers and Muslim leaders in these constituencies to work for the Congress. Khan is upset with the JD(S) for fielding a Muslim in Hebbal. He is of the view that Muslim votes would get divided between the Congress and the JD(S) and the BJP might benefit from it, sources added.

In Hebbal, the Congress has fielded C K Abdul Rahaman Sharief, grandson of senior leader C K Jaffer Sharief. Ismail Shariff Nana is the JD(S) candidate. In Devadurga, the Congress has fielded Rajshekar, while the JD(S) candidate is Karemma. The BJP has fielded Y A Narayanaswamy in Hebbal and Shivanagouda in Devadurga.

In the 2013 Assembly elections, C K Abdul Rahaman Sharief, who was the Congress candidate, lost by a narrow margin to the BJP’s Jagadish Kumar. Division of Muslim votes was said to be one of the reasons for the Congress’ defeat. The byelection in Hebbal was necessitated by the death of Jagadish Kumar a few months ago.

Campaign hots up

Campaign for the byelections to the Hebbal seat is hotting up with senior leaders of the three parties campaigning for their candidates. Union ministers Ananth Kumar and D V Sadananada Gowda campaigned in Sanjaynagar and Radhakrishna Temple wards on Sunday. Ananth Kumar conducted a roadshow, while Gowda took out a motorcycle rally.

Congress leader B K Hariprasad, ministers Ramalinga Reddy and Dinesh Gundu Rao campaigned for the party candidate in Ganganagar and Vishwanatha Nagenahalli wards. JD(S) leader H D Deve Gowda campaigned in RT Nagar.

Cong leaders vie for Council seats

Over half-a-dozen candidates, including former MP Ramya and chairperson of the Jawahar Bal Bhavan Society Bhavana are said to be in the race for becoming nominated as MLCs. Currently, two seats are vacant and the State Cabinet has
already authorised Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to select names for the nominations. Writers Marulasiddappa, Javare Gowda and Govinda Rao are also in the race, sources said.

The chief minister is likely to take a decision on the names after the zilla and taluk panchayat elections, sources added.

Photo credit: DHNS