Bypoll results today,reality check for Ktaka ministers

Results of the Assembly bypolls in Andhra Pradesh,including six in Telangana region,will come as a reality check to the ruling party,which has been equivocal on the demand for statehood for Telangana.

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The Udupi-Chikmagalur Lok Sabha bypoll result on Wednesday could prove to be crucial not only for the survival of beleaguered Karnataka Chief Minister DV Sadananda Gowda,who had vacated the seat after becoming CM,but also for the political standing of the Congress heavyweights from the state,including four Union Ministers and Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi was learnt to have assigned different Assembly segments in this Lok Sabha constituency to these party heavyweights and their performance could become a ready reckoner for the party high command to determine their future role in the state.

External Affairs Minister and former chief minister S M Krishna,for instance,was given charge of Chikmagalur,Corporate Affairs Minister and former chief minister M Veerappa Moily of Karkala,Labour Minister Mallikarjun Kharge of Sringeri and Minister of State for Railways K H Muniyappa of Tarikere. Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman

K Rahman Khan was given charge of Kaup segment,while other three Assembly constituencies were placed under senior state Congress leaders. AICC general secretary Oscar Fernandes was made overall in-charge of the Lok Sabha bypoll.

There has been unease in the Congress about the induction of four leaders from the state in the Union Council of Ministers,given the fact that the party could win only six out of 28 Lok Sabha seats in the state in 2009.

Despite the prominence given to so many Karnataka leaders in the government and the party,the Congress appeared to have made little political gains in the state and has,therefore,been reluctant to make any bid to topple the BJP regime despite the continuous internecine battle in the ruling camp.

For political purposes,the Congress has also divided the state into four zones,giving charge of each zone to each of the four Union Ministers,entrusting them to mobilise people over administrative failures of the state government.

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With former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa making a renewed bid to topple Sadanand Gowda,the Chief Minister could find the going tough in ensuring the victory of BJP candidate Sunil Kumar,who is locked in a tough battle with Congresss K Jayaprakash Hegde. A setback to the BJP in Udupi-Chikmagalur could embolden Yeddyurappa to go for the kill.

On Wednesday,the Congress would also be anxiously watching the results of Mansa Assembly bypoll in Gujarat and of seven Assembly byelections in Andhra Pradesh. Mansa results would be an indicator of the Congresss standing and preparedness in Gujarat,which goes to polls towards the yearend. Results of the Assembly bypolls in Andhra Pradesh,including six in Telangana region,will come as a reality check to the ruling party,which has been equivocal on the demand for statehood for Telangana.