This story is from October 3, 2019

BS Yediyurappa government defers Ballari division call till bypolls

The state government on Wednesday decided to shelve the controversial Ballari district bifurcation proposal until the December bypolls due to differences of opinion among legislators.
BS Yediyurappa government defers Ballari division call till bypolls
BS Yediyurappa
BENGALURU: The state government on Wednesday decided to shelve the controversial Ballari district bifurcation proposal until the December bypolls due to differences of opinion among legislators.
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A meeting of Ballari district MLAs, MPs and former legislators convened by chief minister BS Yediyurappa in Bengaluru failed because legislators refused to budge from their stand on the issue of creating Vijayanagara district from the existing 11-taluk Ballari cluster.

Yediyurappa ended the meeting abruptly, saying they will meet again after the bypolls. The byelections to 15 assembly segments — crucial for the government’s survival — will be held on December 5.
“The CM said he would elicit opinions of intellectuals, NGOs and the people of Ballari before taking a decision on the matter,” health minister B Sriramulu told reporters after the meeting. An MLC who attended the meeting said a majority favoured division of Ballari.
Yediyurappa called the meeting after a section of MLAs led by Ballari City legislator G Somashekar Reddy opposed the proposal to divide Ballari.
BALLARI BIFURCATION

Fight for Vijayanagar district will continue: Anand Singh
Somashekar Reddy had threatened to resign along with other MLAs, including his brother Karunakar Reddy, if the CM took a hurried decision. He had alleged the proposal was mooted to further the political ambitions of one leader — a reference to disqualified MLA Anand Singh.
Singh and Kampli MLA JN Ganesh of Congress had met Yediyurappa in September to announce the creation of Vijayanagar district. Yediyurappa appeared to back the proposal and had instructed officials to place the issue before the cabinet. The announcement sparked protests from within the BJP.
On Wednesday, Singh said the fight for Vijayanagar district will continue. “This is a long-pending demand and we admit the CM can’t take a hurried decision. We will wait till the completion of bypolls,” Singh said. Asked about the opposition from the Reddys, Singh said: “Diff
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