Ramadas, Vasu stay put in parties despite ticket denial

Mysuru: Veteran leaders SA Ramadas of the BJP and Vasu of Congress, both former MLAs, have been denied tickets by the BJP and Congress respectively. These sulking leaders have opted to remain with their parties and support those who got the tickets.
Ramadas, a four-time MLA, is crucial for the BJP if it has to retain the Krishnaraja segment as it has fielded a new face. Mayor Shivakumar, a BJP leader, said BJP will retain Krishnaraja. “There is no doubt about it. Denying a ticket for Ramdas won’t dent the party’s image. MLA Ramdas himself was present when party candidate TS Srivatsa filed his nomination. He will work for his victory,” Shivakumar, who represents ward 47 in Krishnaraja segment, said.

Ramdas, according to Shivakumar, has expressed that he is hurt by the denial of the ticket but promised to ensure BJP’s victory in the constituency which he has represented four times. Ramdas said the party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi ate important to him, he told TOI.
Brahmins and Lingayat voters are decisive in Krishnaraja, where BJP has fielded a Brahmin while Congress has fielded MK Somashekar, a Kuruba. JD(S) has fielded KV Mallesh, a Lingayat. Congress too changed its candidate by denying the ticket to former MLA Vasu in Chamaraja segment. Vasu was disgruntled over the development but chose to remain in the party.
Vasu told TOI that he may have been denied a ticket by the party, but he would still ensure the victory for the party in Chamaraja which is dominated by Vokkaligas. Congress lost the seat to BJP in the 2018 election.
BJP’s candidate L Nagendra, the sitting MLA, has again thrown his hat into the ring. Congress candidate K Harish Gowda had contested as an Independent in 2018 leading to a split among Congress votes. AAP is trying its luck by fielding Malavika Gubbinvani for the second time in a row.
As an independent candidate, Harish Gowda had secured over 21k votes in the 2018 election and he later joined Congress. Harish Gowda is an aide of former chief minister Siddaramaiah.