Date:11/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/11/stories/2008101151170300.htm

Karnataka - Belgaum

BJP gearing up for bypoll

Staff Correspondent

Namoshi holds talks with party leaders in Belgaum

The seat became vacant after Satish Jarkiholi resigned to contest Assembly election
30 aspirants in Belgaum district have sought BJP ticket, says Namoshi

Belgaum: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is gearing up for the byelection to the legislative Council from the local authorities’ constituency for which polling will be held on October 31.

The constituency, which has its geographical jurisdiction over Belgaum district, was represented in the Council by former Minister Satish L. Jarkiholi, who resigned to contest the Assembly election in May.

BJP election observer Shashil G. Namoshi, MLC, who was here for preliminary discussions with senior leaders of the party, said on Friday that the party was making a cautious move to ensure that its calculations were not upset in the byelection to the Council in the light of the byelection to the Assembly from Arabhavi constituency in Gokak taluk and Hukkeri constituency in the district. The party was aware that the outcome of the Council byelection result would have its bearing on the byelection to the two Assembly seats, which became vacant after Balachandra Jarkiholi and Umesh V. Katti resigned from the Janata Dal (S) and joined the BJP.

He said that 30 aspirants had staked claim for the party ticket, including the supporters of Mr. Katti and Mr. Jarkiholi. On whether the party would field the new entrants given the increasing clout of Mr. Jarkiholi and Mr. Katti in the party in district and in the light of “Operation Lotus”, he said that it was left to the party leadership to decide. The winning ability of the aspirants would be taken into account first.

He said that he would apprise State unit president D. Sadananda Gowda of the outcome of the meeting he had with the local leaders of the party here.