Vijayapura: After Ashok Managuli, son of late MLA, M. C. Managuli joined the Congress a few days ago, the party seems to have gained morale-boosting energy.
To show its strength with its newfound zeal, the party would be holding a mega rally in Sindgi town on March 19 as part of its preparations for the coming by-polls for the Sindgi constituency.
The election has necessitated after the demise of Managuli who was elected on JD(S) ticket. The Congress which was suffering from the lack of a strong candidate for Sindgi got shot in the arm after the elder son of Managuli joined the Congress.
Though Ashok Managuli has been claiming that he has joined the Congress without any conditions, however, it is an open secret that he has been looking for a ticket from the Congress as he does not have the confidence of winning on the JD(S) ticket.
The Congress too has not openly announced the name of the candidate, but the party will certainly choose Ashok as it has no better candidate to the field.
The Congress leaders who are wishing to win one more seat, have decided to start preparing for the polls well in advance. In this regard only, the party would be holding a mega rally which is expected to be attended by former Chief Minister and Congress Legislative Party leader, Siddaramaiah.
Meanwhile, the BJP too is making efforts to win the polls. It may be noted that Former MLA, Ramesh Bhusnur won the polls twice before losing the election to Managuli in the third assembly polls.
The party believes that the best bet would be to field Bhusnur again as he had lost by a small margin and still enjoys good clout in Sindgi.
Interestingly, Vijugouda Patil, the present Chairman of Karnataka State Seeds and Organic Certification Agency has created a flutter after saying that he is ready to contest from Sindgi if the party wants.
Amid this, some rumours were also making rounds that the party is mulling to field MLC and DCM, Lakshman Savadi from Sindgi. Though Savadi has not refuted the rumours, he however said that he would be ready to contest if the BJP high command directs him.
Though the BJP is yet to take a final call, however, it seems that after Congress holding a rally and officially announcing its candidate, the BJP will make its move.
Meanwhile, several political analysts believe that in the end, the fight would be between Ashok Managuli from the Congress and Ramesh Bhusnur from the BJP. Since the JD(S) does not have any strong face as of now, the party may not give a tough fight if it gives the ticket to some novice.
