Not in touch with Somanna: Shivakumar

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Monday claimed that rebel BJP leader Somanna was not in touch with him.

Somanna and other saffron party leaders such as Vijayapura MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, Hubballi-Dharwad MLA Arvind Bellad, Gokak MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi and ex-MLA Arvind Limbavali are all set to visit the BJP high command in New Delhi.

The two things that have irked Somanna is the elevation of former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa’s son BY Vijayendra to the post of BJP state president and the way he was dealt with during May’s Assembly elections.

“Somanna has not spoken to me. I only learned of his grievances through the media. He is a senior leader of our taluk. He contested from two seats and lost. I’m surprised he went there. I will not speak much on this,” Shivakumar said.

The Deputy CM was referring to the fact that Somanna wanted to vacate his Govindaraja Nagar seat in the polls for his son, a demand that was struck down by the party.

However, he got to contest from Chamarajanagar against Congressman Puttarangashetty, provided he also contested from Varuna against Siddaramaiah. He lost both seats in the end.