Bengaluru: Karnataka seems set for giant fights in two constituencies because the ruling BJP has fielded formidable leaders in opposition to Congress heavyweights Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar in a dramatic transfer to lift the stakes within the May 10 Assembly elections within the state. But State Congress chief Shivakumar and Leader of Opposition within the Assembly Siddaramaiah appeared unfazed on Wednesday.
Announcing its first listing of 189 candidates on Tuesday, the BJP pitted senior Minister R Ashoka in opposition to Siddaramaiah within the Varuna Assembly section, whereas V Somanna would tackle Shivakumar in Kanakapura.
“Let him contest, I welcome him…Whoever contests against me, I welcome them,” mentioned Siddaramaiah, a former Chief Minister.
Shivakumar mentioned: “I wish him (Ashoka) good luck. There should be a fight in politics. It is not new to me as I had fought against H D Deve Gowda in 1985, later against H D Kumaraswamy. My life is a struggle, I will continue to fight”.
According to occasion sources, the BJP management’s intention behind this transfer appears to be aimed toward making certain that each Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar are tied right down to their respective segments to the extent attainable, in order that their campaigning and strategising in different constituencies for Congress’ victory could be restricted.
Both Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah have reportedly advised the Congress central management that they might go to their constituencies just for submitting their nomination, and would give their whole time to campaigning in favour of different Congress candidates to make sure the occasion’s win within the majority of the segments.
Somanna belongs to the Lingayat neighborhood which has a big presence in Varuna, whereas Ashoka is seen as BJP’s outstanding Vokkaliga face, the neighborhood to which Shivakumar additionally belongs to.
Somanna may also contest from Chamarajanagar, and Ashoka from Padmanabhanagar section (which he presently represents).
Recalling that he had campaigned for Siddaramaiah in the course of the Chamundeshwari bypolls once they have been in the identical occasion, and had labored with him as cupboard colleagues, Somanna mentioned the Varuna constituency was not new to him. “I will do my job.”
Commenting on him being fielded in opposition to Shivakumar, Ashoka mentioned, as a “loyal soldier of the party” he would abide by the diktat of his “commanders” Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
“I have been given the task of contesting from Kanakapura, I was not aware of it, nor have I asked for it. But as a disciplined soldier of the party, I will abide by the decision. I will play my role in ensuring that the party’s strategy to win this election is successful,” he mentioned.
Noting that political stalwarts like Indira Gandhi and Deve Gowda amongst others too had misplaced elections, he mentioned, “People of Kanakapura want development, and I’m confident that they will bless me to bring in a ‘double-engine government’ under Modi’s leadership…. The party has given me strength and I will fight.”
Regarding his contest in opposition to Siddaramaiah, Somanna mentioned the occasion had given him the duty with a variety of belief, and he would attempt his finest to fulfil expectations.
“I had earlier become MLA in Govindarajanagar in a span of 25-30 days. I will try to repeat the same in Varuna this time with the blessings of the people there,” he mentioned.
Somanna had earlier mentioned he wouldn’t contest in opposition to Siddaramaiah.
In Kolar, the second seat from the place Siddaramaiah is planning to contest, BJP has fielded Varthur Prakash, who has gained twice from the section as an impartial.
Commenting on Ashoka contesting in opposition to him from Kanakapura, Shivakumar mentioned, politics was a sport of chess, and each Congress and BJP have been enjoying the sport.
Asked whether or not Congress in a retaliatory transfer would area a powerful candidate in opposition to Ashoka in Padmanabhanagar, the opposite section from the place he’s contesting, the KPCC chief mentioned, “V Raghunatha Naidu is our candidate there… There is also pressure to field D K Suresh (Bengaluru Rural MP) from there, but we have announced Naidu’s name. We will discuss.”
Former Minister C P Yogeshwar from BJP would as soon as once more cross swords with Janata Dal (Secular) chief and former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy in Channapatna.
