Discontent forced ex-CM to quit Badami?

Dharwad: Siddaramaiah’s decision to abandon Badami and contest from Kolar has raised eyebrows, although senior Congressmen defended the move, citing Kolar’s proximity to Bengaluru. Siddaramaiah himself said the sheer distance between the state capital and Badami made it difficult for him to take stock of constituents’ requirements and attend to them.
But sources say it was largely to do with growing discontent within Congress in Bagalkot district. BB Chimmanakatti, a Kuruba strongman and former minister, who had hoped to contest the election from Badami in 2018, was not chuffed when Siddaramaiah, an old Mysuru leader, was airdropped into the North Karnataka district. However, the party persuaded Chimmanakatti and his supporters to back the former CM.
Chimmanakatti is now aspiring to run from Badami, and has been openly attacking the former CM, asking him to “go back” to his home district. He was upset that some second-rung leaders close to the former CM were running the show in the segment during his absence.
No seat is a cake walk
Political analyst Sandeep Shastri said, “No seat today is a cakewalk for any candidate. There will be tremendous pressure on Siddaramaiah since has been rotating seats with such regular frequency, in every election. On paper, Kolar looks ideal yet there is a huge gap between ideal and reality. It will be a tough contest.