Karnataka Assembly elections: Congress worried about united opposition in Chamundeshwari

BENGALURU: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has already started campaigning in Chamundeshwari. However, Congress seems to be concerned about a united opposition making matters difficult for the CM. JD(S) candidate G T Devegowda is a sitting MLA and he is strongly backed by the party’s top leaders, including H D Deve Gowda and his son H D Kumaraswamy. The BJP too is likely to extend tacit support to the JD (S) making it a fight between Siddaramaiah versus combined opposition. If Siddaramaiah contests from two segments, the  opposition would call it a ‘retreat’ from  hamundeshwari.

The move may also  send wrong signals to voters in Old Mysore region and can even impact the party to some extent.Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah and KPCC president G Parameshwara on Thursday left for the national capital to attend party leaders meeting to finalise the list of candidates. As the list is likely to be announced  by this weekend, leaders, who are trying to get the tickets gathered at the CM’s official residence for last-minute lobbying earlier in the day.

Sources said PWD Minister H C Mahadevappa, who is trying to get the party ticket for his son, and rebel Zameer Ahmed, who is trying to get Congress ticket for Akhanda Srinivasa Murthy, who joined Congress from JD (S) along with him, were seen at the CM’s residence on Thursday. A number of ticket aspirants from different parts of the state are camping in the national capital hoping to pull strings to get the tickets.