Party `rebels' facing expulsion

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, OCT. 30. Although Monday was the last day for withdrawal of nominations for the elections to the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike Council, leaders of political parties are still hopeful of persuading the ``rebels'' to retire from the fray. ``Retire or face expulsion,'' seems to be their warning to the rebels.

The Congress, which has the largest number of rebel candidates, has warned the party rebels that they will be expelled. The President of the Bangalore City District Congress Committee, Mr. Ramalinga Reddy, says that more than 30 party rebels have been given two days to withdraw from the fray.

Prominent among the Congress rebels are two corporators -- Ms. Bhagyamma (Koramangala) and Ms. Padmavathy (Lakkasandra). Ms. Padmavathy is the Prakashnagar corporator, Mr. Murlidharan's wife. Mr. Reddy says that the presidents of a few block units of the party, including Mr. Keshava Murthy and Mr. Ramappa (Mr. V. Somanna's followers), are posing a threat to the official candidates in the Binnypet and Marenahalli wards.

The party leaders have been successful in persuading most of the rebel candidates to withdraw from the elections. The leaders will meet the 100 party candidates on Wednesday and chalk out a manifesto for the elections, according to Mr. Reddy.

A problem for JD(S): There are four rebel JD(S) candidates -- Mr. Allah Bakash (J.C. Nagar), Ms. Nalini (Shivajinagar), Mr. Pyare Jan (Guruppanapalya), and Mr. Ramanna (Gayatrinagar). Unhappy with the decision of the JD(S) to allot the Guruppanapalya and Gayatrinagar wards to its allies -- the AIADMK and the CPI, respectively -- Mr. Pyare Jan and Mr. Ramanna are refusing to withdraw their candidature.

``All the four candidates have been given time till 3 p.m. on Wednesday to retire. If they fail to do so, they will be expelled,'' Mr. R. Ratan Singh, President of the City unit of the JD(S), says.

The JD(U) has managed to convince 13 party rebels against contesting the polls, and only two rebels -- Mr. Nagananda (Sevashram) and Mr. Ashok (Sri Ramamandir) are in the fray.

``Both these candidates joined the party recently. We have asked them to retire. If they fail to do so, they will be placed under suspension,'' Mr. R.V. Harish, President of the City unit of the JD(U), says.

The BJP is left with only two rebels. The corporators from Chamarajpet and Ganganagar -- Mr. B.V. Ganesh and Mr. M. Nagaraj -- have fielded their wives. ``It is still not late. They have an option to retire within a day or two. If they do not withdraw from the fray, they will be expelled,'' the President of the BJP's City unit, Mr. R. Ashok, says.

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