Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah might contest from Badami legislative constituency in the upcoming elections in the state besides Chamundeshwari.
The Congress leader held a meeting on Thursday with leaders from Badami during which he was reportedly requested to contest from the constituency in Bagalkot district in north Karnataka. The CM is believed to have told the leaders to discuss the matter with the party high command.
Badami, which is the historic centre of the Badami Chalukyas from 540 to 757 AD, has a strong presence of Kuruba voters, the community to which Siddaramaiah belongs.
Reports say that Siddaramaiah wants to contest from Chamundeshwari assembly constituency in Mysuru district, which is his home constituency and has a strong presence of Lingayat and Vokkaliga voters. But the Congress leadership is reportedly not too keen about it.
The CM won the 2013 legislative elections in the state from Varuna constituency in Mysuru district. He had also won from the same seat in 2008. Siddaramaiah reportedly wants to field his son Dr Yathindra from Varuna.
On the other hand, the Karnataka CM has been elected five times – including a by-poll – from Chamundeshwari. Siddaramaiah began his political career from the seat.
If Siddaramaiah contests from Chamundeshwari, he will be up against his former friend and protégé GT Devegowda. The Janata Dal (Secular) leader is the incumbent MLA from Chamundeshwari and considered a very strong contender for retaining the seat.
Reports indicate that the Congress fears the BJP and the JD(S) coming to some kind of understanding to defeat Siddaramaiah should the latter contest from the seat.
CB Bhimappa of the Congress is the current MLA from Badami. In 2013 he had defeated MG Mamadapur of JD(S) by 15,113 votes. In 2008, BJP’s MK Pattanshetty had won from the seat.