Shankar has agreed to support Arun Kumar: BSY

Bengaluru: Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said that R Shankar, one of the 17 disqualified MLAs in Karnataka, will work for the BJP candidate from Ranebennur.

Addressing presspersons Yediyurappa said, “I spoke to R Shankar, who won from Ranebennur. He agreed that he will work for the candidate whoever may contest. I have promised him that he will be made MLC and Minister.”

He further added, “Arun Kumar Guttal will win. R Shankar will work for Arun Kumar… We have convinced him. People will accept him after the situation becomes calm. I have promised him of ministership and told him to support and work for Arun Kumar.”

Yediyurappa’s comments came after the supporters of Shankar protested in front of Yediyurappa’s residence here after BJP chose Arun Kumar Guttur as its candidate from Ranibennur Assembly constituency for the upcoming Karnataka by-elections. Before getting disqualified, Shankar was an Independent MLA from Ranibennur.

The chief minister said he had asked Shankar to assist Pujar, adding it was decided to give the ticket to him (Pujar) because everybody in the party desired so.

Though Shankar was adamant on contesting the byelection, the Chief Minister had persuaded him to relent, party sources said.

Reacting to the development, Shankar said the Chief Minister had assured to make him a minister.

Fifteen out of the 17 constituencies represented by these MLAs will be going for by-polls, while by-elections to Maski and RR Nagar constituencies have been withheld as separate cases with regard to them, are pending before the high court.

Sixteen out of the 17 disqualified Congress-JD(S) legislators on Thursday joined the BJP in Bengaluru in the presence of Karnataka chief minister B S Yediyurappa and its state unit chief Nalin Kumar Kateel and National General Secretary in charge of the state P Muralidhar Rao.

All the 13 disqualified MLAs have been repeated from their respective seats.