Bellary, Nov 24: A day after coming under attack from BJP leaders here in the run up the Nov 30 bypoll for the Bellary Rural seat, rebel leader B Sreeramulu today declared he would “wipe out” the saffron party base in this district.
“I will decimate BJP from the grassroots level in Bellary district, as I eliminated Congress. It is me and Janardhana Reddy who are responsible for BJP's growth in Bellary,” Sreeramulu, seeking re-election from Bellary Rural seat as an Independent, told reporters here.
Apparently retaliating the attack mounted on him by Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda and his predecessor B S Yeddyurappa, he accused BJP of luring MLAs supporting him in the election with allurements.
“As the party was staring at the defeat of its candidate, it is engaged in desperate acts,” Sreeramulu, who recently quit the BJP and is fighting against it in the bypoll, said.
Sreeramulu hit out at Yeddyurappa for his remarks that development works had taken a beating in Bellary district, remarking “the same leader few months ago heaped praises on me and Janardhana Reddy”.
Yeddyurappa had during campaigning said yesterday, “BJP means it is not Sreeramulu and Reddys. There are others in the party”.
Chief Minister Gowda, had alleged Sreeramulu had quit BJP and was contesting as an independent in the bypoll after the party rejected his demand for a ministerial berth.
“I now regret supporting Sreeramulu and Reddys in Bellary,” he had said.
Meanwhile, three companies of para-military force which arrived here to assist police in maintenance of law and order during the by-election staged a flag march to instill confidence in people.
