Uncertainty looms over Siddu's constituency in Assembly polls

"It is only speculation, not confirmed. Information is not true always. I have made it categorically clear...that the high command will decide as to from where I should contest," Siddaramaiah

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Uncertainty looms over the constituency from which senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah will be contesting the upcoming Karnataka Assembly polls, with the party still undecided on his seat, amid reports that the leadership has advised him against contesting from Kolar. The Leader of Opposition in Karnataka in January announced that he will contest from Kolar, subject to approval from the Congress high command.

Now amid reports that Congress leadership including Rahul Gandhi, during the party's Central Election Committee meeting held on Friday, had advised Siddaramaiah not to contest from there, speculations are rife about the former Chief Minister reconsidering about his plans to enter the poll fray from Kolar. It is also being said that the Congress Legislature Party leader was thinking about going back to Varuna, the seat in Mysuru, from which he had contested and won in the past.

The senior leader is said to have huddled with party leaders close to him at his residence here on Saturday, after arriving from New Delhi. Reacting to the speculations about his constituency, Siddaramaiah today said, he will abide by party decision, and will enter the poll fray from wherever he is asked to.

In response to a question on reports claiming about leadership asking him to contest from elsewhere citing "survey reports", Siddarmaiah told reporters, "It is only speculation, it is not confirmed. Information are always not true. I have made categorically clear...I had written in my application (for ticket) that high command will decide on as to from where should I contest, so where is the question of it."

Asked what if the high command asks him to contest from two seats like done in 2018, he said, "Let's see what they say...why do the guessing....as far as I know, they will not ask me to contest from two seats. I will go by the decision of the high command. Wherever high command directs, I will contest from that constituency." BJP and JD(S) took a dig at lack of clarity on the constituency from where Siddaramaiah, one of the probable Chief Ministerial face of the Congress, will be contesting the polls, which is likely by May.

Veteran BJP leader B S Yediyurappa, who had earlier predicted that Siddaramaiah, aware of losing, will not contest from Kolar and may go back to home district of Mysuru, today, while recalling his earlier statement said, "I had said that he will contest from Varuna, most probably what I had said might come true, you will see it when their list is announced. I don't know why he created unnecessary confusion."

Another senior BJP leader K S Eshwarappa, who too had made similar prediction said, he knew Siddaramaiah won't contest from Kolar as, Dalits who constitute about 62,000 of voters in the constituency are "waiting" to defeat the former CM, for his alleged role in defeating Dalit leaders from Congress.