International wheelchair tennis player is SP candidate from Channapatna

The Channapatna Assembly constituency, which has already generated curiosity over the profile of some of its candidates, has another interesting person in the fray. Shilpashree Gowda, an international wheelchair tennis player, is set to contest against the present Channapatna legislator C.P. Yogeshwar on the Samajwadi Party (SP) ticket.

Mr. Yogeshwar, who had won on the SP ticket last time, switched to the Congress later and is now with the BJP.

While speculation was rife over the candidature of Anitha Kumaraswamy, wife of former Chief Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) State president H.D. Kumaraswamy in the constituency, JD(S) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda announced the candidature of Mr. Kumaraswamy for both Channapatna and Ramanagaram Assembly constituencies.

Ms. Shilpashree is among nine candidates whose names were released by the party here on Sunday. “I wanted to get a chance to contest as I want to work for society,” Ms. Shilpashree told The Hindu. “I’m not deterred by the opponents contesting from Channapatna.”

She started playing tennis in 2010, and has since taken part in international events in Thailand and Malaysia.

According to SP State unit president Robin Mathews, the party will be contesting in about 25 seats across the State, and the second list will be announced shortly after receiving the nod from party leader and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav. He also said the party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav will be visiting the State to campaign for the party candidates.

Two rallies are being planned — one in Mysuru and the other in Davangere or Chitradurga.

On the tie-up with Janata Dal (Secular), Mr. Mathews said the party had not approached JD(S) so far.