Bengaluru: If politics is all about ‘give and take’, BJP strongman Katta Subramanya Naidu knows how to play his cards in the best manner possible.
Reports say he has demanded a Legislative Council seat from the Assembly constituency when polls are held in June this year, in return for giving up the Hebbal seat to party candidate Y. A. Narayanaswamy.
The term of seven members, who were elected from the Assembly to the Council, will end in June, 2016. As per the present party strength in the Assembly, Congress can elect four members and BJP and JD(S) can comfortably elect one member each to the Council. Katta is eying the seventh seat, which he can win with the support of JD(S) and Independents.
To get elected to the Council, an aspirant has to get 33 first preferential votes. Both JD(S) and BJP can easily elect one member each but can win the second seat only if they field a common candidate.
Former minister V. Somanna is the frontrunner for the BJP’s ‘sure’ seat while another member, Ashwathanarayana, too has approached the party leadership for a ticket, said sources.
With Katta enjoying a good equation with JD(S) leaders and Independents, he wants the party to make him the common candidate. When contacted, Katta, who is busy campaigning for Narayanaswamy in Hebbal, said, “Yes, I am interested in entering the Council if the party offers me the ticket.”
He said he had no doubts about the victory of Narayanaswamy in Hebbal, claiming the BJP candidate already enjoyed a lead in five of the eight wards and was trying to win over voters in the remaining three wards.
On why he had given up a safe constituency to an outsider, Katta said, “I can move to another constituency in future. If Narayanswamy wins the by-election, it will be his permanent constituency”.
