Date:22/03/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/03/22/stories/2004032203200300.htm

Karnataka - Bellary

Janata Dal (S) candidate launches campaign

By Our Staff Correspondent

BELLARY, MARCH 21. N. Suryanarayan Reddy, a granite exporter keen on contesting from Kurgodu Assembly Constituency in Bellary district for the second time, on Sunday launched his election campaign from Siddamnahalli. Mr. Reddy, who contested on the Bharatiya Janata Party ticket, lost in the 1999 election to Allum Veerbhadrappa by a margin of 4,408 votes.

This time he is likely to contest as the Janata Dal (Secular) candidate. Mr. Reddy, after the 1999 election, stayed away from party activities. However, he has been taking up the cause of the common man with regard to problems such as drinking water, release of water into the canals for irrigation, and drought relief work.

Mr. Reddy joined the Janata Dal (Secular) at a colourful function here a few weeks ago. The Janata Dal (Secular) President and former Prime Minister, H.D. Deve Gowda, the State party unit President, Siddaramaiah, and the former minister, M.P. Prakash, were presented at the function. A large number of Mr. Reddy's supporters, including 10 elected representatives in Bellary taluk and zilla panchayat, joined the party. Mr. Reddy took out a "padayatra" at Siddamnahalli, Badnahatti, and Kurgodu villages along with a large number of party leaders and party workers on Sunday.

He interacted with the people at the community hall where the people pointed out that there were several problems in the villages that were not addressed by the Congress. People were heard saying that Mr. Veerbhadrappa, Minister for Water Resources (Krishna Basin), who won the Kurgodu seat thrice in a row, had not visited Siddamnahalli.