Congress, JDS in Karnataka sack rebels for backing BJP
The Congress expelled four corporators from KR Puram after they were found rallying for Byrathi Basavaraj who is now contesting from BJP for the December 5 Karnataka bypolls
FollowBengaluru: Both Congress and JD(S) were left red-faced on Wednesday as their own party workers began campaigning for disqualified legislators who are now contesting the December 5 Karnataka bypolls from the BJP ticket.
The Congress expelled four corporators from KR Puram after they were found rallying for Byrathi Basavaraj, a Congress rebel. Basavaraj is contesting on a BJP ticket against Congress MLC M Narayanaswamy.
The expelled corporators are B N Jayaprakash (Basavanapura ward), M N Srikanth (Devasandra ward), V Suresh (A Narayanapura) and S G Nagaraj (Vijnana Nagara). The Congress statement said in an official release that these four corporators were expelled for indulging in anti-party activities for six years.
Meanwhile, in Mahalakshmi Layout, trouble brewed for JD(S) after two corporators openly declared that they were campaigning for BJP’s K Gopalaiah, the disqualified MLA who was with the regional party earlier.
Former deputy mayor Hemalatha, Gopalaiah’s wife who represents Vrushabhavathi Nagar ward has been expelled along with the party’s Marappanapalya councillor M Mahadev and Mahalakshmi Layout unit president Jayaram.
Mahadev was seen campaigning for the BJP. Speaking to the reporters, Mahadev said he had no regrets as Gopalaiah was his mentor. “I have been with him for several years now. It only seems fair that I support him now. Moreover, the party hasn’t taken any of us into confidence. We do not know Girish Nashi, who is the party’s candidate in this constituency.”
On expected lines, the JD(S) also saw dissidence from Hemalatha. Terming the constituency as a “strong fort” of her husband, Hemalatha said she too was campaigning for the BJP. “Ever since he quit the party, I too haven’t gone to the JD(S) office. The party is free to take action against me,” she said.
