The political future of B Y Raghavendra, son of BJP State President B S Yeddyurappa and current MLA of Shikaripura is uncertain. It is not known whether he will return to being an MP or enter legislative assembly once again. Yeddyurappa wishes to let his son continue in State politics. If the political situation after the coming legislative elections goes haywire Yeddyurappa wants his son to get more prominence reported Kannada Prabha.
The rumour that Yeddyurappa will desert his home constituency Shikaripura and contest from any other constituency in Bagalkote in Uttara Karnataka was doing the rounds some days ago. However, Yeddyurappa himself put a stop to that. If Yeddyurappa had contested from any other constituency then his son Raghavendra would have contested from Shikaripura. But Yeddyurappa hesitated to change constituency had decided to stick to Shikaripura. Hence Raghavendra’s future is shaky.
At the outset it looked like the position of father and son would interchange if Yeddyurappa contests from Shikaripura. However it is easier said than done. At the neighbouring Ranebennur constituency there is a dearth of strong BJP candidate. Raghavendra had planned to contest from there and had even started the preparations. Hence he was appointed as in charge for Shikaripura and Ranebennur. Raghavendra has visited Ranebennur several times and held discussion with supporters about the socio-political scene there.
There is a possibility that the current legislator K B Koliwada is planning to make his son Prakash Koliwad to contest from there. Former deputy Mayor of Bengaluru R Shankar had contested there last time and had lost in a thin margin and he will definitely contest this time too. Shankar has gained strength in the constituency and it has made Raghavendra hesitate.
Amidst all this it is being said that Raghavendra prefers to be an MP rather than an MLA. However, the Lok Sabha ticket allotment is also not very easy. Former MP Ayanuru Manjunath has placed his appeal before the Party leaders to allot him either legislative assembly or council ticket. He is interested in contesting from Shimoga Vidhana Sabha or from Graduates Constituency for coming legislative council. If both are not possible he would contest for Lok Sabha, he has said.
Meanwhile, former minister Kumar Bangarappa has been brought into BJP from Congress and his political future is also not very clear. Yeddyurappa is interested in fielding him from Soraba or Sagara but someleaders have expressed that it would be good to give him ticket for Lok Sabha elections. Hence only if the political future of Kumar Bangarappa and Ayanuru Mnajunath is clear can Raghavendra contest for Lok Sabha elections. If not he would have to face hurdles say sources.