Bellary: The voting for Bellary rural by poll is set for Nov 30, in less than a week. The BJP and Reddy’s group represented by former MLA and present Independent candidate, B. Sriramulu are the only two vital opposing forces, which means BJP is at was with its own splinter group in which a few local MLAs and MP from Bellary district, back the rebellious candidate of Reddy’s group.

According to caste considerations of voting, official BJP candidate (Gadilingappa) is ahead of B. Sriramulu, with 4 BJP MLAs crossing over to him to support.

There are 8 candidates including congress (Ram Prasad) in the fray, and JD-S MP and state unit chief H. D. Kumaraswamy is in Bellary asking voters to vote for “any Independent candidate but excluding Congress and BJP contestants.

The returning officer Shashikant Senthil has told Press that all arrangements have been completed to conduct the by-elections necessitated by ex-MLA B. Sriramulu who left BJP.

The presence of B.S. Yeddyurappa has turned the tide against the defaulter (S. Sri) who defied BJP