Karnataka Polls: Battle of Vokkaliga Bigwigs in Ramanagara; DK Shivakumar Hints at Brother’s Candidacy

With the Karnataka assembly elections due halfway through the year, the opposition Congress has decided to take over the Gowda dynasty with its eyes on Ramanagara district, part of the old Mysuru region.

Ramanagara is the home district of the DK brothers but a ‘karmabhoomi’ for the Gowda clan. Both DK Bhai and the Kumaraswamy family belong to the Vokkaliga community, which is widely spread in old Mysuru, and is the second most influential vote bank in the state after Lingayats.

For the JD(S), which has a stronghold in Ramanagara district, Tuesday was a bombshell dropped by KPCC president DK Shivakumar as he indicated that his brother and Bangalore villager DK Suresh could be fielded as the party’s candidate. Is. Candidates from the area in the upcoming election.

“I can’t deny it, but yes, there is a proposal. I am yet to discuss it with everyone. There is a message for me that he should contest. I haven’t spoken to Suresh or party workers about it . It will be a big decision, but I am still undecided. There is definitely a proposal and local leaders are mounting pressure on me. Even the party is saying that (Suresh) should contest, but I have not discussed this with the leaders.

If Karnataka’s lone Congress MP in the Lok Sabha, DK Suresh, is fielded from Ramanagara, it will be a fight between two Vokkaliga heavyweights in his backyard, as the JD(S) has fielded HD Kumaraswamy’s son Nikhil as its candidate for the assembly Is. Election. The Ramanagara constituency is currently represented by the wife of former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy.

DK Suresh, however, said it is difficult for him to decide to contest from Ramanagara district as he is not interested in state politics as he is the lone Congress MP representing Karnataka. “I am under pressure from contesting elections from different constituencies. Supporters from other constituencies are also requesting me to contest from their constituencies. Iqbal Hussain, who contested from that constituency (Ramnagar), is working hard and serving the people. So, all of them have recommended his name for this election and I have also recommended him,” DK Suresh told News18.

Interestingly, DK Shivakumar was also seen delivering an emotional speech to the people of Ramnagar during the party’s Prajadhwani Yatra on March 10. He said that he is the son of the district and if he dies, his body will be brought to the same place for the last rites. He appealed to the people that those who gave a chance to Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy should also give them (Congress) a chance to win.

But HD Kumaraswamy’s son Nikhil, who has been an equal participant in party activities with his father, has left it to the people to decide. “Lakshya, losing is not in our hands as we have not cheated the people. I am constantly visiting people and villages and becoming a part of their joys and sorrows. It is all in the hands of the people whether they will give me milk (victory) or poison (defeat),” said Nikhil Kumaraswamy.

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