Kumaraswamy’s entry changes dynamics for Yogeshwar in Channapatna

Popularly known as the City of Toys, Channapatna, which is about 67 km from Bengaluru, has gained importance this election season, with Janata Dal (S) State president H.D. Kumaraswamy deciding to contest from here along with neighbouring Ramanagaram constituency. It was the latter constituency that gave him the “political rebirth” in 2004 and catapulted him to the Chief Minister’s post in 2006.

Strategic reasons

Though contesting from two constituencies is for strategic reasons — to quell demand for more seats from within the family — it has pitched him against C.P. Yogeshwar, MLA, who quit the Congress and joined the BJP recently.

Mr. Yogeshwar has been referring to Mr. Kumaraswamy as a “migratory bird”, based on him switching constituencies since 1996 when he first fought the Lok Sabha election from Kanakapura. He has accused Mr. Kumaraswamy of “betraying” his voters. As a counter-attack, Mr. Kumaraswamy has accused Mr. Yogeshwar of constantly party-hopping — from Congress to BJP to Samajwadi Party (SP) to Congress and then to BJP. Mr. Yogeshwar had won against Anita Kumaraswamy in the last Assembly elections on an SP ticket. All this has built up the animosity in the contest this year.

Though JD(S) workers are said to be elated over Mr. Kumaraswamy’s decision, party workers in Ramanagaram were not too happy about him contesting from two segments. At a party meeting, the workers argued that Mr. Kumaraswamy would be compelled to give up one of the seats if he won from both, necessitating a byelection.

However, Mr. Kumaraswamy attributes his decision to family exigencies. If Channapatna constituency is given to Ms. Anita Kumaraswamy, Prajwal Revanna, son of his brother H.D. Revanna, cannot be denied ticket from Rajarajeswarinagar constituency. (Mr. Prajwal Revanna has since said he is not keen on contesting this time.) Mr. Kumaraswamy has been saying that only two from his family will contest this time.

The party is describing Mr. Kumaraswamy’s move as “the last-ditch effort to save the H.D. Deve Gowda family from breaking up for political reasons”.

Meanwhile, there are rumours that the JD(S) has a tacit understanding with Congress leader D.K. Shivakumar to defeat Mr. Yogeshwar since the latter quit the Congress to join the BJP in November 2017.

Congress plan

Meanwhile, it is said that the Congress leadership is keen on fielding Transport Minister H.M. Revanna from Channapatna, keeping an eye on the strong Kuruba community besides OBCs in the region. The Transport Minister hails from the neighbouring Magadi segment.