Nirani on Tuesday is understood to have bargained hard with Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar and BJP?state president Pralhad Joshi in Hubli to allow him to contest election from Jhamakhandi, the neighbouring constituency of Bilagi. Nirani is said to have repeated his threat that he would have no option but to quit the BJP and join the KJP if his demand is not met. Now, Nirani represents the Bilagi Assembly seat.
The meeting remained inclusive as Shettar and Joshi are said to have told Nirani that they will get back to him in a couple of days after consulting the party's central election committee.
If Nirani decides to stay with the BJP, it would be a major loss of face for Yeddyurappa, who has already seen desertion by three of his close loyalists—Umesh Katti, Basavaraj Bommai and V?Somanna. All the three are Lingayats.
So far, the BJP has been reluctant to accept Nirani's demand as Jhamakhandi is represented by sitting MLA?Srikanth Kulkarni. On his part, Nirani is not confident of winning from his home turf as he is said to have antagonised a section of farmers who had raised questions on the style of functioning of his chain of sugar factories.
Nirani has been blaming his cabinet colleague Govind Karjol for instigating farmers against him for political gains. Besides, Jhamakhandi has a large Lingayat population, a community to which Nirani belongs.
Both Shettar and Joshi are said to have told Nirani that they were ready to talk to Karjol and sort out the differences.
Nirani refused to take queries from reporters. Shettar and Joshi in separate interactions with the media said that Nirani would not quit the BJP and would contest from his home turf.
Later in the day, Nirani left Hubli for Jhamakhandi. He held a meeting with his supporters wherein a large number of them urged him to contest from the constituency on a KJP?ticket.
Nirani told them to wait till Friday and that he would take a decision that day.
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