Yeddyurappa, Sreeramulu face off during Bellary campaign

B D Narayankar

Press Trust of India

Bellary (Kar), Nov 22: Former Karnataka Chief
Minister B S Yeddyurappa and BJP rebel B Sreeramulu were today
involved in a war of words while campaigning for bye-election
to November 30 Bellary rural assembly constituency, claiming
that they were the kingmakers.
Yeddyurappa said as chief minister he gave Bellary three
ministers (Reddy brothers and Sreeramulu) from the district.
"I was the only chief minister to have given Bellary three
ministers from the district," he said at Cowl Bazar.
BJP would take strict action against those BJP legislators
who were campaigning for Sreeramulu in the bypoll, Yeddyurappa
said. "A lesson will be taught to those supporting
Sreeramulu," he added.
Yeddyurappa said he was confident of party candidate
Gadi Linganappa winning the bypoll, which he considered as
crucial for both the party and the government.
"People in Bellary have seen our development works
across the state and they are with us. I am confident that
Gadi Lingappa will win the bypoll," he said.
Hitting back at Yeddyurappa while campaigning at Honalli
Tanda, Sreeramulu said he and Reddy brothers', in fact,
were instrumental in making the BJP leader chief minister.
"With Reddy brothers' support Yeddyurappa became chief
minister ... also he has taken help from us whenever
required," he said.