Why CM Siddaramaiah is keen to contest from Koppal?
- CM Siddaramaiah is keen on contesting from Koppal
- He wants to sacrifice his home turf Varuna constituency
- Kuruba community is majority in Koppal
FollowChief Minister Siddaramaiah's younger son Dr Yatindra who is working in shadows to cement his position in state politics may have it easier to enter into active politics if things fall in place. Siddaramaiah is keen sacrifice his Varuna constituency in Mysuru for his son and shift his base to Koppal.
In fact, the Congress leader made his 'wish' quite obvious when he spoke to mediapersons in Koppal. "I'm quite keen on contesting from Koppal constituency," he told reporters. However, he did not specify when reports Kannada Prabha.
It is also said that Siddaramaiah might choose from Varuna or Chamundeshwari constituencies. Chamundeshwari is not a new constituency for Siddaramaiah considering the fact that he had represented it in the State Assembly for five terms. Yet, the chief minister is eyeing Koppal this time to allow his son to test the political waters, it is said.
Dr Yatindra once a reluctant is slowly warming up to the state politics. So much so that he recently held a meeting of Mysuru Urban Development Authority officials in Mysuru. This was widely criticised as Dr Yatindra did not hold any constitutional authority to conduct such meetings. To silence critics, he was made the chairman of Housing Projects Vigilance Committee of Varuna constituency.
This is, in fact, a strategic move by the senior Congress leader, as the constituency has Kuruba community in the majority. Since Siddaramaiah belongs to Kuruba community, it would be more safer for him to contest from there, say insiders. But so far, the chief minister has not decided on either of the constituencies.
Meanwhile, as a sign of support, Koppal district in-charge minister Basavaraj Rayareddy too has welcomed Siddaramaiah's decision. "We will have no issue if Siddaramaiah wants to contest from Koppal. The local MLA Basavaraj Hitnal will be asked to shift his base to Gangavathi or Kushtagi.
But can Siddaramaiah afford to take the risk from Koppal? For, Siddaramaiah had contested from Koppal on a JD(S) ticket in 1991 in Lok Sabha elections but had lost to Basavaraj Patil Anwari. Although he did not win the elections, the narrow margin vote difference made the party leaders sit up and the constituency that is dominated by Kuruba community. Keeping this in mind, Siddaramaiah is still in a dilemma whether to consider Koppal as a priority. However, nothing can be ruled out as of yet.
