B. Sriramulu, State BJP vice-president and a prominent leader in Ballari district, exuded the confidence of wresting the Ballari Lok Sabha seat from the Congress.
Speaking to The Hindu here, Mr. Sriramulu said that there was a pro-BJP wave all over the country and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efficient administration in five years would help the party to win over 24 Lok Sabha seats, including Ballari, his home district.
It may be mentioned here that BJP, which held the Ballari Lok Sabha seat for three consecutive terms, suffered a humiliating defeat in the by election held at the fag end of the third term following the resignation given by Mr. Sriramulu himself to contest in the assembly election.
Sriramulu’s sister and former MP Ms. J. Shanta lost to Congress candidate V.S. Ugrappa by a huge margin of 2.43 lakh votes.
“In the last election to Assembly, I was asked by my party to contest from two districts. As a result, I could not concentrate on Ballari. Secondly, B.S. Anand Singh and B. Nagendra, who were with BJP, joined Congress. This affected the performance of the party in the election. In the by election to the Lok Sabha, misuse of power by the Coalition government and use of money power were among other reasons for the party’s debacle. Now, with pro-Modi wave on one hand and on the other the internal differences/ disgruntlement among the Congress leaders in the district coupled with sincere efforts to be put in by the BJP leaders, re-capturing the Ballari Lok Sabha seat from the Congress is not difficult”, he claimed.
Mr. Sriramulu, over former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar being made election incharge for Ballari, said that it was a decision of the party. However, he did not agree that it was a reflection on his leadership and hold in his own district.
“Mr. Shettar is a senior leader and is very close to me and all the party leaders in the district. It is good that a person like Mr. Shettar has been made incharge of the distirct. I am confident that he would carry all the leaders along with him, motivate party workers to ensure the success of the party candidate. On my behalf, I will extend all support to him and also concentrate more on the district to regain the lost seat and also the image of the party besides working for the success of the party candidate in Koppal, where I have been made in-charge and also in neighbouring districts”, he said.