Bellary: Local businessman P Gadilingappa
on Friday filed his nomination papers as BJP candidate for the
Bellary Rural bypoll scheduled to be held on November 30.
Gadilingappa was accompanied by state BJP president K S
Eshwarappa and Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda.
BJP had announced Gadilingappa`s candidature last night
after its efforts to woo former minister B Sreeraumulu, who
has quit the party and contesting the bypoll as an
independent, back into its fold failed.
Party sources said talks with Sreeramulu failed as he
insisted on a commitment for a ministerial berth to him if he
wins the bypoll.
BJP, on the other hand, refused to give in to his demands
fearing it could destabilise the state government.
Sreeramulu, who was part of the previous B S Yeddyurappa
Government, was excluded in the Sadananda Ministry in view of
his indictment in the Lokayukta report into illegal mining.
PTI
