Easy ride for ST Somashekar in Yeshwanthpur?

Bengaluru: Despite confusion among corporators and party workers over the question of extending support to disqualified MLA, ST Somashekar, it could well be a walk in the park for the two-term legislator and former Chairman of BDA, with voters of Yeshwanthpur Assembly constituency describing him as a humble politician with a vision for development, ahead of next month's bypoll to the Legislative Assembly.       

On Friday, many voters hailed Mr Somashekar as prospective youth icon of the BJP during his road show in Kengeri and neighbouring areas, much to the relief of ruling party leaders, led by Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, who have reiterated that legislators who jumped ship would make it to the cabinet as part of their effort to garner the support of the electorate. During the road show, his supporters welcomed him with garlands, but the leader reached out to all voters in the area to ensure that they support him and make it easy for him to notch a hat-trick of victories.

"He could well emerge as the youth icon in BJP. He lost his first election in 2008, but he has done his best for people of this constituency over the last five years when we approached him. We were working for the Congress earlier, but joined the BJP, following in his footsteps," Rakesh Gowda, a businessman in Ramohalli, told Deccan Chronicle.

According to Shankar, employee of a IT firm and local resident, Mr Somashekar, known for his humility and a vision for development, would pull out all the stops to address problems plaguing a vast constituency like Yeshwanthpur. "He has stood by the people whenever they faced problems in the past, but Mr Javarayi Gowda of JD (S) is seen only during elections," Mr Shankar told Deccan Chronicle.

During his campaign, Mr Somashekar took a dig at leaders of Congress and JD (S) for showing off report cards on implementation of various schemes.

"I know all about problems which they created in this constituency. Mr Javarayi Gowda will also come forward with a fake report card, but I observe a wave in favour of the BJP this time. Where was he during the last ten years? What has he done for the people (in Yeshwanthpur constituency)?" he asked.

Mr Somashekar was elected to the Assembly in 2013 and 2018, and remained a die-hard supporter of former chief minister, Siddaramaiah, often demanding that the Kuruba strongman be re-elected as Chief Minister.

In July, he turned a rebel and resigned his membership of the Assembly along with a dozen legislators of Congress, triggering a collapse of the JD (S)-Congress coalition government.