Many incumbent MLAs to sit out these Karnataka assembly elections

BENGALURU: While the three main parties are looking to infuse fresh blood by replacing familiar but ageing faces in the upcoming assembly elections, many incumbent MLAs have voluntarily offered to step aside.
More than half a dozen MLAs have opted out of the race for different reasons. While seniors like former chief minister BS Yediyurappa and former minister V Muniyappa had announced months ago that they will not contest, the latest to join the bandwagon is BJP’s SA Ravindranath. Currently representing Davanagere North, Ravindranath cited health issues for his decision.
Advancing age is also a factor. “I have undergone surgery for a leg injury. It will take time to heal,” Ravindranath, 76, said on Tuesday. “I have informed the party leadership about it and asked them to field someone else in my place.” There is talk that supporters want chief minister Basavaraj Bommai to contest from Davanagere North because they feel it is a safer seat than Shiggaon. Sadar Lingayats, the community the CM hails from, are dominant in Davanagere North while Panchamasali Lingayats, who are miffed with Bommai, and Muslims are key in Shiggaon. “I will welcome Bommai if he contests from Davanagere North,” said Ravindranath.
“In fact, we want him to contest from here as it would serve twin benefits: Him and the constituency.” However, functionaries say the party leadership is not keen on fielding anyone from two seats and the possibility of Bommai moving to Davanagere appears remote. However, they also say the party leadership is serious about experimenting with new faces. Bommai himself admitted this on Tuesday while announcing the first list will be released this week. Another veteran to call it quits is Haladi Srinivas Shetty, a five-time MLA from Kundapur. In Congress, Yathindra Siddaramaiah has vacated his Varuna seat for his father and former chief minister Siddaramaiah and has no plans to contest. Muniyappa (Sidlaghatta) is retiring owing to health issues and even Kusuma Shivalli (Kundgol) is learnt to have conveyed to the party high command that she will abstain.
Ramalinga Reddy, state Congress working president, said: “While there are many reasons for these retirements, in some instances legislators are offering to retire gracefully as they are likely to be denied tickets owing to low winnability.” In JD(S), Anitha Kumaraswamy has stepped aside to facilitate her son Nikhil Kumaraswamy to contest from Ramanagara, which she currently represents in the assembly, while M Srinivas (Mandya) is not contesting. “Just because they have abstained from elections, it does not mean these MLAs will be inactive,” said JD(S) core committee member KA Tippeswamy. “They will continue to contribute to the growth of the party.”