Congress leader and Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar dropped a strong hint that he may contest the Channapatna assembly byelections.
Channapatna goes to bypolls as Janata Dal (Secular) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy vacated the seat after being elected to Lok Sabha in the recent general elections.
"Channapatna is in my heart. It was part of the erstwhile Sathanur assembly constituency, which I represented. My political career actually started there. The people of Channaptna have been with me in tough times and I have a debt to repay,” Shivakumar told reporters in Bengaluru.
"There is an opportunity to develop Channapatna in the same way I have developed Kanakapura. I am visiting the temples of the constituency and discussing with the local leaders and voters, will take a decision on contesting later," he was further quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
Asked whether his brother and former MP D.K. Suresh will be contesting from Channapatna, he said: "that is not decided. More or less, I'm asking the votes for myself."
There were talks that Suresh, who lost to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s CN Manjhunath from Bengalore North Lok Sabha seat, may be fielded in Channapatna.
News agency PTI quoted sources as saying that if Shivakumar contests and wins from Channapatna, he may vacate the Kanakapura Assembly seat that he currently represents for Suresh.
"Channapatana gave me political birth. For four times I have won in a hobli from Channapatna that came under my Assembly constituency. People there have blessed me," Shivakumar said.
The byelection schedule for this Assembly seat is yet to be announced by the Election Commission.
Kumaraswamy represented Channapatna twice—in 2018 and 2023—while Shivakumar has been representing Kanakapura since 2008. Both constituencies are part of the Vokkaliga dominated Ramanagara district.
