Shivakumar fires salvo at HDK, Yogeshwar over Channapatna

Ramanagara, NT Bureau: Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar held a “government at your doorstep programme” in Channapatna town of Ramanagara district on Monday while taking a dig at his political rivals.

The programme typically features Shivakumar or CM Siddaramaiah who address and provide solutions to problems of petitioners from the local Assembly constituency.

The event comes in the backdrop of Shivakumar indirectly floating the idea that he would contest the by-poll for Channapatna Assembly constituency, a seat vacated by JD(S) state president HD Kumaraswamy recently.

The former CM was elected from the Mandya Lok Sabha seat and was given the coveted Union Ministry of Heavy industries, Steel and Public Enterprises in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Cabinet. Shivakumar had appeared to go back on his initial idea of contesting from Channapatna when he suggested that there would be no by-poll for Kanakapura Assembly seat.

The idea was that if the Deputy CM wins from Channapatna, Suresh would contest from Kanakapura. Alternatively, Suresh’s name had come up for the Congress Channapatna ticket.

It is to be noted that Kumaraswamy had won from Channapatna in 2023 and 2018 against BJP leader CP Yogeshwar, who had held the seat prior to that.

The two rivals have buried the hatchet and have been working together ever since BJP and JD(S) entered into an alliance in September 2023.

Yogeshwar, an MLC and five-time Channapatna MLA, is said to be the top contender for the seat’s ticket on behalf of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners.

Lofty leaders failed town: DKS

Responding to Kumaraswamy’s criticism that he hadn’t even visited Channapatna, Shivakumar said that “senior” leaders had failed to find a solution to the town’s problems.

“The constituency hasn’t been vacant for long. Experienced leaders had represented it. I thought they would be responsive and provide solutions. I learned of the state (of the constituency) when I held a meeting with officials. It has come to my notice that nothing has happened here. Therefore, we are holding programmes in Ramanagara'', he said.