As the Karnataka Assembly elections in 2018 is crucial for both the ruling Congress and the Opposition BJP, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday indicated he was ready to contest from a constituency in North Karnataka if he got the high command’s nod.
“I have an offer to contest from a constituency in north Karnataka and if high command gives its nod I am ready to contest from there,” he said, speaking on the sideline of a function at Chikkaballpur on Monday.
According to party insiders, Siddaramaiah has been thinking of changing his constituency Varuna in Mysuru from where he is interested in fielding his son Dr. Yatindra.
Sources said Siddaramaiah might opt for Koppal in North Karnataka where the major chunk of voters are from Kuruba (shepherd) community he belonged to.
If Siddaramaiah chose to try his luck from North Karnataka, he may run into his arch-rival and BJP chief BS Yeddyurappa.
A source in the BJP confirmed that as part of a strategy to keep its lingayat vote bank intact , the party leadership has asked Yeddyurappa to contest from North Karnataka where lingayat population plays a decisive role in Karnataka politics.
Yeddyurappa has been contesting from Shikaripura in Shimoga, his home turf, and the BJP wants him to contest from one of the constituencies from Bidar, where lingayats are divided over demanding a separate religion for them.
Sources say with his political upmenship, Siddaramaiah tried to divide lingayats to shift their loyalty to the Congress. According to sources in the BJP, RSS in its analysis of the current situation has advised Yeddyurappa to contest from North Karnataka, which has been endorsed by party national president Amit Shah. This might help the BJP consolidate its vote bank to counter the Congress strategy and might look at Mission 150 out of 224 a target fixed by Amit Shah.
In 2013 Assembly elections in 13 districts of North Karnataka, the BJP had won only 22 seats, the Congress 57, and the JD(S) 6.
The other Opposition JD(S) led by HD Kumaraswamy is also concentrating in North Karnataka and he was the first one to start a campaign by staying in Dharward. In 2008 elections, the BJP had consolidate and had a massive support in North Karnataka.
In Bidar, Yeddyurappa said, “The party high command has not yet decided which constituency I should contest from. I will go by the decision of the party elders. let Siddaramaiah also can contest from the same constituency".
Speaking to media two ministers Satish Jarkihole and RB Thimmapura said Siddaramaiah would contest from North Karnataka.