Audikesavulu cosies up to JD(S)

BANGALORE:  In what ought to have been a normal political development to fulfil a routine constitutional obligation of electing four members to the Rajya Sabha, the elections to the Upper House of Parliament from Karnataka is all set to gain some “importance” with liquor baron Audikesavulu approaching JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda seeking his party’s support.JD(S) sources told Express here on Friday that a close relative of Audikesavulu called on Gowda, and his sons H D Kumaraswamy and H D Revanna recently seeking their party’s support to him in the elections. “Audikesavulu would like to contest as an Independent backed by the JD(S). He is confident of garnering the surplus votes of the BJP. But the party has not yet taken any decision,” a top leader added.The JD(S), with its 26 MLAs, cannot field its own candidate and the BJP, with its 29 surplus votes, will not be able to get its third candidate elected. The ruling party can easily win two seats as each of the candidates needs 46 votes. The BJP has 121 votes.“We are wondering whether supporting Audikesavulu would amount to joining hands with the BJP. We need to analyse the short-term and long-term implications of the move,” another JD(S) leader said.The BJP has also not taken any decision on the issue of supporting Adikeshavulu. The Central Parliamentary Board is seized of the issue and is expected to spell its stand in a day or two. Meanwhile, sitting RS MP Rajeev Chandrashekar too has thrown his hat in the ring for the same slot. He too called on Gowda and his sons. It may be recalled that the JD(S) backed Chandrashekar in the previous election.Chandrashekar, who enjoys a cordial rapport with BJP national general secretary Ananth Kumar, has not yet called on Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, state party president K S Eshwarappa and former CM B S Yeddyurappa seeking the party’s support.