BSY’s son won’t contest against Siddaramaiah Jr

In a surprise move, Lingayat strongman and State BJP chief BS Yeddyurappa on Monday declared that his son BY Vijayendra will not contest from Varuna constituency in Mysuru against Chief Minister Siddar-amaiah’s son Dr Yathindra. 

Yeddyurappa’s announcement at a meeting organised by the party at Nanjanagudu, near Mysuru, on Monday led to large-scale protests by BJP workers following which police resorted to lathicharge.

“Vijayendra is not filing nomination. A party worker will be fielded from Varuna. With folded hands, I request all of you to support and bless that candidate,” he said.

Yeddyurappa’s decision has come as a big surprise. Experts said the former Chief Minister pulled his son out of the contest after realising that political wind is not blowing in favour of the BJP in Varuna. 

Yeddyurappa’s second son Vijayendra has been campaigning in the constituency for over a fortnight now and had even rented a house

there. According to party sources, Vijayendra was to file his nomination from Varuna on Monday.

After Yeddyurappa left the stage, angry workers rushed to the dais and  went on rampage. Police said they resorted to lathicharge to bring the situation under control.

Yeddyurappa’s elder son BY Raghavendra is the sitting member of the Assembly from Shikaripura in Shivamogga district.  Yeddyurappa is contesting the upcoming election from Shikaripura.

Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah justified his stand on contesting from two constituencies, Chamundeshwari in Mysuru and Badami in Bagalakote.

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi too contested from two constituencies in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Siddaramaiah has been representing Varuna after it became a constituency in 2008 following delimitation.  

The Karnataka Assembly polls will be held on May 12 and the votes will be counted on May 15.