BJP aspirants meet D K Shivakumar raise eyebrows

Bengaluru: Amid talk of friction with  Congress legislature party leader Siddaramaiah, former minister, D.K. Shivakumar on Sunday held a meeting with two disgruntled former BJP legislators who are also bypoll aspirants proving that he was finding ways to give pin pricks to the Siddaramaiah camp.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a senior leader observed that Mr Shivakumar who is  eyeing the post of KPCC president, is taking all possible steps to sit on the hot seat. “His had visited Mysuru two days ago on the pretext of offering prayers at Chamundeshwari temple and prior to this visit, he had made statements that he was not averse to taking up the PCC president’s post.”

The BJP leaders from Belagavi - Ashok Poojary of Gokak and Raju Kaage  of Kagwad - who are aspirants for tickets in their respective Assembly constituencies, held a closed door meeting with Mr Shivakumar at his  Sadashivanagar residence. “That these aspirants met Shivakumar just ahead of the date for filing nominations for the by-elections instead of Mr Siddaramaiah or KPCC president, Dinesh Gundurao, is sure to cause heartburn among his rivals,” a supporter of  Shivakumar told this newspaper.

Meanwhile reacting to this, Congress Legislature party leader Siddaramaiah said,  “What's there to react? We will welcome those into our party fold who believe in our party's ideology. There is nothing wrong if they have met him. Coming into our party fold and securing tickets are two different things. We have a strong party central leadership, whenever anybody has sought tickets, it is always decided in New Delhi, not here."