By Team Mangalorean, Bangalore

Karnataka Assembly Elections 2008 - Complete Coverage

SHIMOGA, April 29, 2008: This district known for its green fields, white waters and areca gardens is now playing host to a raging electoral battle between two former Chief Ministers - and it is happening in Shikaripur where S.Bangarappa and B.S. Yedyurappa are in the fray for this seat. It is as if all other candidates namely the BSP and that of Congress been made irrelevant.
 
It is truly a battle royale as both of them are veterans of several elections and Mr. Bangarappa state president of the Samajwadi Party is known as "Solillada Saradara" (ever winning general) while Mr. Yeddyurappa is known to be the son of the soil and protector of the peasants in this district.

Bangarappa files nominations in Shikaripura on April 28, 2008

Yeddyurappa inaugurates his personal website www.vijayeekarnataka.com in Bangalore on April 28, 2008

But things may not be so good for Mr. Yeddyurappa, particularly after the announcement of the JD(S) Supremo H.D. Deve Gowda stating that his party will not field anybody in front of Mr. Bangarappa to honour his parliamentary acumen. The announcement came lat last night when Mr. Gowda was in Mysore. This means that BJP and Bangarappa will be the only two major forces that will prevail in this important constituency. Mr. Bangarappa has however decided that he will also contest from Sagar for his own reasons.
 
Should Bangarappa win the day Mr. Yeddyurappa’s political life will be sealed and he will be reduced to a politician who will be looking for a seat in the upper house. With many of his detractors around actively in politics that eventuality also appear to be remote.
 
In the meanwhile Mr. Yeddyurappa has shown a sign of definite weakness by stating that he was feeling that all that publicity that is being given to the elections in the constituency was undue and needs to be downplayed.

Karnataka Assembly Elections 2008 - Complete Coverage