<p>BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa held talks with former union minister S M Krishna on Saturday on the Lok Sabha elections and especially the contest in the Vokkaliga bastion of Mandya where the party is undecided on fielding a candidate.</p>.<p>Krishna, a former chief minister who was with the Congress earlier, has agreed to campaign for the saffron party in Mandya, Udupi-Chikmagalur, Hassan, Shimoga, Chitradurga, Kolar and Bangalore (North, South and Central) seats.</p>.<p>The BJP is slated to hold its core committee meeting on Sunday, where it is expected to discuss a host of topics concerning the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, including strategy for the Mandya seat.</p>.<p>A curious contest is in the works at Mandya, where the JD(S) has fielded Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy’s son Nikhil. However, late Congress leader and actor Ambareesh’s wife Sumalatha is also keen on contesting, but the Congress has denied her a ticket since Mandya has been ceded to the JD(S) as part of the alliance. Sumalatha will decide on contesting as an independent on March 18.</p>.<p>“Krishna has provided his suggestions. We will decide on what to do based on Sumalatha’s decision,” Yeddyurappa told reporters. Sumalatha has already held talks with Krishna, a Vokkaliga, who is a native of Mandya.</p>.<p class="CrossHead"><strong>Will not contest, says SMK</strong></p>.<p>Former union minister S M Krishna on Saturday said he will not contest the polls, ending speculation that the BJP was considering fielding him from the Vokkaliga-dominated old Mysore region.</p>.<p>“Campaigning is also a form of politics,” Krishna said when asked if he will enter electoral politics again. “No, I will not contest,” he said.</p>
<p>BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa held talks with former union minister S M Krishna on Saturday on the Lok Sabha elections and especially the contest in the Vokkaliga bastion of Mandya where the party is undecided on fielding a candidate.</p>.<p>Krishna, a former chief minister who was with the Congress earlier, has agreed to campaign for the saffron party in Mandya, Udupi-Chikmagalur, Hassan, Shimoga, Chitradurga, Kolar and Bangalore (North, South and Central) seats.</p>.<p>The BJP is slated to hold its core committee meeting on Sunday, where it is expected to discuss a host of topics concerning the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, including strategy for the Mandya seat.</p>.<p>A curious contest is in the works at Mandya, where the JD(S) has fielded Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy’s son Nikhil. However, late Congress leader and actor Ambareesh’s wife Sumalatha is also keen on contesting, but the Congress has denied her a ticket since Mandya has been ceded to the JD(S) as part of the alliance. Sumalatha will decide on contesting as an independent on March 18.</p>.<p>“Krishna has provided his suggestions. We will decide on what to do based on Sumalatha’s decision,” Yeddyurappa told reporters. Sumalatha has already held talks with Krishna, a Vokkaliga, who is a native of Mandya.</p>.<p class="CrossHead"><strong>Will not contest, says SMK</strong></p>.<p>Former union minister S M Krishna on Saturday said he will not contest the polls, ending speculation that the BJP was considering fielding him from the Vokkaliga-dominated old Mysore region.</p>.<p>“Campaigning is also a form of politics,” Krishna said when asked if he will enter electoral politics again. “No, I will not contest,” he said.</p>