JD(S) rebel Cheluvarayaswamy to test water at Bengaluru

The news of JD(S) rebel legislator Cheluvaraya Swamy joining Congress is spreading thick.  It is rumoured that Mandya’s Nagamangala constituency legislator Cheluvarayaswamy will be contesting from Bengaluru in the coming elections. According to sources he may contest from Mahalakshmi Layout. Zameer Ahmed, a close friend of Cheluvarayaswamy has assured all support it is said. It is also rumoured that all JDS rebels have planned to teach a lesson to JD(S) and hence have masterminded the plan to get Cheluvarayaswamy contest from Mahalakshmi Layout, reported Kannada Prabha.

The reason for Cheluvarayaswamy to quit Nagamangala is said to be Suresh Gowda, his strong rival and contestant has quit Congress and joined JD(S).  Suresh Gowda is going to be the contestant from Nagamangala in the next election.  Former MLA Suresh Gowda has grown in strength.  If Cheluvaraya swamy contests from Congress ticket also he has little chance of winning over Suresh Gowda, it is suspected. Hence he may have opted to quit Nagamangala, it is said.

The Mahalakshmi Layout current MLA is from JD(S). The reason speculated for Cheluvarayaswamy opting for Mahalakshmi Layout is, former Congress legislator N L Narendra Babu has lost his popularity in the constituency.  Congress needs a strong candidate here.

Secondly, the constitution has major Vokkaliga community voters and Cheluvarayaswamy being a Vokkaliga leader will help in winning.  Also Cheluvarayswamy may gain from sympathy wave as he is campaigning that he has been suppressed in JD(S).

• JDS rebels shifting to Bengaluru
• Cheluvarayaswamy eyes Mahalakshmi Layout