Bengaluru: Putting to rest speculations that he would be contesting this year’s assembly elections from two constituencies, senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Thursday said he would be contesting from one seat.
This is in contrast to the 2018 assembly elections when Siddaramaih contested from two seats – from Chamundeshwari and Badami. He lost the Chamundeshwari seat to JDS candidate and scraped through in Badami, defeating BJP’s B Sriramulu by a very thin margin.
“Who said? I am contesting from two constituencies. I am contesting from one constituency. I have made this clear,” Siddaramaiah told reporters here.
The speculation was invigorated by a priest who told Yatindra Siddaramaiah, Varuna MLA and senior Congress leader’s son, that there is a divine wish for his father to contest from two constituencies. The priest had told Yatindra during a visit to a temple in Mandya district recently.
Recently the senior Congress leader had publicly announced his wish to contest this year’s state elections from Kolar, but subject to the approval of high command.
Siddaramaih blames media for carrying out a propaganda that he would contest from two constituencies.
He said since Badami is far and he would not be able to meet people of the constituency every day, he thought of contesting from a constituency nearer to Bengaluru this election.
Flaying BJP for its comments on his opting for two constituencies due to fear of losing, Siddaramaiah said, “If Narendra Modi fights from two seats he is a big leader. If I do the same, I am targeted. This attitude should not happen.”
Meanwhile, Karnataka Congress President DK Shivakumar said Siddaramamaiah has submitted one application, and the party high command will decide.
