Trouble for JD(S) as T Venkatesh says he will contest as rebel candidate

Mandya: Even as JD(S) leaders have asserted that former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy will cap the rebellion in the party in the wake of announcement of the party candidates for Mandya district, trouble continues for the party as Taggahalli Venkatesh, former ZP chief, has indicated that he will contest as a rebel from Srirangapatna assembly segment. His supporters met in Mandya on Sunday in an indication that Venkatesh is not backing down.
Venkatesh said that he has worked for the party for 35 years.
“I had appealed to former prime minister HD Deve Gowda and former CM HD Kumaraswamy to field me during the last assembly elections. The party high command had promised to make me an MLC and appoint me as chief of a state-level corporation. But they did not walk the talk,” he said.
Srirangapatna is represented by Ravindra Srikantaiah, who has been fielded by the party again.
Venkatesh said he had appealed to the leaders seeking for the ticket even in the last moment. “I will be happy even now if the party fields me. But if the party does not replace the candidate, I will surely contest the elections as an Independent,” he said, adding he will not withdraw from the fray for any reason.
With his contest, there is a possibility of a four cornered fight in Srirangapatna assembly constituency, as JD(S) has announced the ticket for sitting MLA Ravindra Srikantaiah while former MLA and Congress leader Ramesh Babu Bandissidde Gowda is likely to get the Congress ticket.
Supporter of MP of Mandya, Induvalu Sachchidananda has joined the BJP and is looking for a ticket from the saffron party.
This apart, the Aam Aadmi Party is also fielding a candidate.