MYSURU: Things are hotting up in Mysuru, and this is not only because of the prevailing weather. In the upcoming Assembly elections, the district is all set to become a war zone where the ‘first’ families of Karnataka politics will battle it out. And like it happens in most crucial conflicts of this nature, two important parties – the JD(S) and BJP – have together conspired against a third one — the Congress.
Chamundeshwari and Varuna are two constituencies that will bear the brunt of this showdown, for it is here that heavyweights are being pitted against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his son Dr Yathindra, in the event of the junior being offered the Varuna ticket. Siddaramaiah, it is almost certain, will contest from Chamundeshwari.
The CM has embarked on a whirlwind tour of the Chamundeshwari and is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that his political career ends on a high note – by winning his “last outing”. He is unfazed that friend-turned-arch rival G T Devegowda, who is a force to reckon with in the Vokkaliga, Dalit and Nayaka dominant area, will do all he can to foil that ambition.
Add to this the fact that JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda, after “closely tracking Siddaramaiah’s campaign in Chamundeshwari, will tour the constituency from Tuesday” along with his namesake, and the going is bound to be tough for the CM.
The JD(S) plans to visit Veerashaiva mutts, Dalit colonies and Nayaka streets, apart from campaigning in urban pockets that fall under Mysuru Urban Development Authority and Mysuru City Corporation.
Varuna’s BJP unit couldn’t have asked for a better candidate than B S Yeddyurappa’s son B Y Vijayendra to take on Congress’ Yathindra. The BJP’s star son started his political journey in the constituency after offering a puja to the presiding deity Chamundeshwari with defeated candidate Kapu Siddalingaswamy in tow. Thereafter, Vijayendra, called on JSS seer Shivarathri Deshikendra Swami and former minister V Srinivasa Prasad.
Vijayendra has offered to contest from Varuna if the party high command deemed it fit. BJP leaders from Varuna have appealed to BJP national chief Amit Shah that Vijayendra be fielded here as “they want a strong candidate to defeat CM’s son while taking on their money power”.
Vijayendra has gone on record to state that he may be new at Varuna but party leaders and workers were not. He expressed confidence to wrest the seat if given a ticket. The BJP-JD(S) campaign may well be a collective one what with both Yeddyurappa and Kumaraswamy having said it is very necessary to defeat Siddaramaiah.
Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy have expressed a strong desire to stall the Congress march at Chamundeshwari and Varuna. The duo is out to avenge the CM for his attacks on the party and for saying “JD(S) will not win even 30 seats in the state”.The party has roped in Srinivasa Prasad and A H Vishwanath among others to take away as many Ahinda votes as may be possible.