Ramanagara part of B'luru? Cong chief Shivakumar & JD(S) leader HDK slug it out

NT Correspondent

Mysuru/Bengaluru: In what seems be a turf war between him and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Wednesday said the whole of what is now Ramanagara district belongs to Bengaluru and the residents of its four taluks were Bengalurians.

Shivakumar, who hails from the region and represents Kanakapura Assembly segment in the district, suggested that he has a plan and a blueprint to bring Ramanagara district under Bengaluru, and would reveal it in the days to come.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said he didn't know about the issue as Shivakumar had not discussed with him in this regard.

Hitting back at Shivakumar, Kumaraswamy, a former Chief Minister, who represents Ramanagara Assembly segment in the district, alleged the move could be aimed at regularising "illegal or benami assets".

He also said Shivakumar should understand that "even after taking seven births one cannot divide Ramangara district."

"The whole of Ramanagara belongs to Bengaluru. Magadi, Channapatna, Kanakapura and Ramanagara is -- Bengaluru. What shape this plan has to be given, I will speak about it in the days to come," Shivakumar said.