Karnataka: Sriramulu leading in Bellary; BJP trailing behind

Bellary, Dec 4: As the Bellary by-poll counting of votes is underway on Sunday, Dec 4, the initial reports has hinted at a big victory for independent candidate B Sriramulu, who flaunted a new party after breaking up ties with the ruling government BJP.

Sriramulu, under the guidance of Reddy brothers, the mining bosses of Bellary, who was arrested and serving days under CBI custody, formed a new party as he put a tough challenge against the BJP in by-poll.

BJP which is rapidly losing ground to Sriramulu was chasing in a poor third place, following even the Congress party.

After the eight round of counting the results were in favour of Sriramulu as he had secured 25,713 votes and was leading by a margin of 11,367 votes. Congress" candidate Ramprasad and BJP"s Gadilingappa are trailing behind the independent candidate, have had secured 14,346 and 3,222 votes respectively.

It can be recalled that former ousted CM of Karnataka, BS Yeddyurappa, had campaigned for BJP during by-poll after his release from the jail in a land denotification case.

The trouble mounts on BJP government as many MPs and MLAs in present CM Sadananda Gowda's cabinet are in support of Sriramulu.

As the BJP was bracing up to face a political debacle in Bellary, is undertaking possible measures to sustain stability in government. If sources are to believe, party is in talks with five Independent legislators to secure support for when Sreeramulu wins and his supporters pose a threat to the government's stability.

Since the BJP came to power in Karnataka, it is lurching from one crisis to another. Almost all the members and ex-members of the party who held respectable posts faced charges. Few even put behind the bars. But if BJP lost its battle for the Bellary to Sriramulu, the defeat could pronounce bigger troubles for the hapless party.

Remember, this electoral fight is an ultimate test on one's influence in Bellary region. This would mean that when Sriramulu, a close aide of Reddy brothers wins election, will indeed take on rivals of his bosses, that is none other than state's BJP government itself.

OneIndia News