Bengaluru and Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Friday ruled out contesting the Channapatna election poll.
He even wondered aloud why there would be by-elections in Kanakapura assembly segment, where he is an MLA.
Two days ago, Shivakumar said, “Since Channapatna, there has been a significant change in my political career. "I have come to Anjaneya temple in Kengal to begin a new chapter in my political career."
This led to speculation that he was set to contest from the Channapatna assembly segment, which fell vacant after MLA HD Kumaraswamy won the Mandya Lok Sabha elections.
BJP MLA and former minister S Suresh Kumar termed the alleged “bypoll in Kanakapura” as a “Tughlaq-like decision” and a waste of public money.
“Why will there be by-elections in Kanakapura? I am an MLA from Kanakapura and the state president of my party (Congress). There is a responsibility on me. This is my region and I am a leader there,” Shivakumar told reporters on Friday.
"I and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will lead the elections (in Channapatna)," he added.
Shivakumar further explained that he had only asked people to support him. “I am from that district (Ramanagara). I have asked the voters there to give us strength... They will favor us if they trust us,” the MCD said.
Commenting on those who criticized him, Shivakumar said: "Those who write an obituary of my political career must know that there is a greater power behind me, which is the power of the people."
Earlier, BJP state president B Y Vijayendra said it was up to the Congress to decide who should contest from Channapatna. However, he pointed out that DK Suresh, who lost in the Bengaluru Rural constituency as a Congress candidate, had thought he was invincible.
Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Kumaraswamy, whose resignation as MLA is triggering the Channapatna by-election, said Shivakumar was showing affection for Channapatna now but he had not visited the place in the last one and a half years.
It has been more than a year since Shivakumar became deputy chief minister; The person who had never been to Channapatna all these days is showing his affection for that constituency and is talking about it, he said.
“Who had stopped you from developing Channapatna until now? What was his brother's (D K Suresh) contribution to Channapatna? he asked.
On June 19, Shivakumar paid homage to Lord Hanuman and sounded the election campaign bugle in Channapatna.
His claim that a new chapter in my political career would begin in Channapatna made people speculate that he would contest from Channapatna.
It was perceived in political circles that after winning from Channapatna, Shivakumar would resign from Kanakapura constituency, creating a vacancy for his brother Suresh to contest and win the polls.
He even wondered aloud why there would be by-elections in Kanakapura assembly segment, where he is an MLA.
Two days ago, Shivakumar said, “Since Channapatna, there has been a significant change in my political career. "I have come to Anjaneya temple in Kengal to begin a new chapter in my political career."
This led to speculation that he was set to contest from the Channapatna assembly segment, which fell vacant after MLA HD Kumaraswamy won the Mandya Lok Sabha elections.
BJP MLA and former minister S Suresh Kumar termed the alleged “bypoll in Kanakapura” as a “Tughlaq-like decision” and a waste of public money.
“Why will there be by-elections in Kanakapura? I am an MLA from Kanakapura and the state president of my party (Congress). There is a responsibility on me. This is my region and I am a leader there,” Shivakumar told reporters on Friday.
"I and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will lead the elections (in Channapatna)," he added.
Shivakumar further explained that he had only asked people to support him. “I am from that district (Ramanagara). I have asked the voters there to give us strength... They will favor us if they trust us,” the MCD said.
Commenting on those who criticized him, Shivakumar said: "Those who write an obituary of my political career must know that there is a greater power behind me, which is the power of the people."
Earlier, BJP state president B Y Vijayendra said it was up to the Congress to decide who should contest from Channapatna. However, he pointed out that DK Suresh, who lost in the Bengaluru Rural constituency as a Congress candidate, had thought he was invincible.
Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Kumaraswamy, whose resignation as MLA is triggering the Channapatna by-election, said Shivakumar was showing affection for Channapatna now but he had not visited the place in the last one and a half years.
It has been more than a year since Shivakumar became deputy chief minister; The person who had never been to Channapatna all these days is showing his affection for that constituency and is talking about it, he said.
“Who had stopped you from developing Channapatna until now? What was his brother's (D K Suresh) contribution to Channapatna? he asked.
On June 19, Shivakumar paid homage to Lord Hanuman and sounded the election campaign bugle in Channapatna.
His claim that a new chapter in my political career would begin in Channapatna made people speculate that he would contest from Channapatna.
It was perceived in political circles that after winning from Channapatna, Shivakumar would resign from Kanakapura constituency, creating a vacancy for his brother Suresh to contest and win the polls.
