As the D-day is fast approaching Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is undecided about his selection of constituency. As the Congress party and its president Rahul Gandhi is heavily banking on him, Siddaramaiah a messiah of the backward classes has also indicated there is pressure for him to be contesting from two constituencies.
There is also a speculation in the political circles that he would be contesting from Shanthinagara in Bengaluru urban district which is so far controlled by Congress MlA NA Harris. Nalpad Harris has not been given seat so far at Shanthinagar as the high command feels his son Mohammed Nalpad Harris has tarnished his image by brutally beating a person in a high end restaurant. His son is in Jail and applied for bail.
Addressing the media in Mysuru on Wednesday Chief Minister Siddaramaiah indicated that he was under pressure to contest from a constituency in north Karnataka. Fuelling the speculation he said he was under pressure and left it to the media to speculate. However, Siddaramaiah also, at the same time, said that he has made it clear to the Congress high command about his unwillingness to contest from two constituencies.
He said “yesterday leaders from the district (Bagalokte) had come to me once again in the night. SR Patil, GT Pati, sitting MlA Chimmanakatti’s son, also people from other constituency, are pressurising that I will have to contest.”
“They had come to me once again stating that there is confusion as there are several candidates (in Badami); and if I contest it will benefit the party. I have told them that I will discuss, so it is held up (issuing of B form the party candidate).”
Asked if “held up” meant that chances are still open for him to contest from Badami in Bagalkot district in north Karnataka, he said “...you understand however you want.”
“I have made it very clear to the high command. I’m not interested and I do not want to contest from two constituencies. I have made it very clear to the high command,” he added.
In the Congress list Siddaramaiah’s name figures in Chamundeshwari in Mysuru and Dr Devraj Patil as its nominee from Badami in north Karnataka. But so far the party has not issued B-form Patil and it has kept on hold. Badami has large number of Kuruba (shepherd community) votes and Siddaramaiah’s political advisors have asked him to contest from both the constituencies. Siddaramiah belongs to Kuruba community and in the process of his chief ministership has made his community one of the dominant community in Karnataka politics apart from lingayats and Vokkaligas.
Badami in this context is seen as second safe option for the Chief Minister as reports have suggested that the battle in Chamundeshwari will not be an easy one for him as both BJP and JD(S) have compromised to defeat him.
Siddaramaiah has won five times and tasted defeat twice at Chamundeshwari, from where he has been announced as the candidate. He was representing Varuna constituency in Mysuru since 2008, which has now been allotted to his son Dr. Yatindra.
For both ruling Congress and the BJP, Karnataka is crucial and waging a major political battle for power. The State elections also would be a litmus test for Rahul Gandhi as he is facing his first battle after he became president of the century old party.