Siddaramaiah may be planning to try his luck again from Badami constituency, end confusion

BENGALURU, BAGALKOT: Stuck between the Congress high command’s suggestion that he should stick to Varuna constituency and not contest from Kolar, and his son Yathindra’s political fortunes, Opposition leader Siddaramaiah will be testing the waters again from Badami, his current Assembly seat before coming to a final decision. If he decides to contest again from Badami, he can effectively hit two birds with one stone — protest his own seat and his son’s.

Siddaramaiah speaking to the crowd at his residence on Friday.

In the previous Assembly election, BJP’s Backward Classes leader B Sriramulu had given Siddaramaiah a tough fight in Badami, but this time, he may not contest from there, making things easier for Siddaramaiah. It will also give him the time and space to tour different parts of the state in the run-up to the election. On the other hand, Yathindra may also have the going easy in Varuna constituency.

Siddaramaiah was mobbed by supporters of R Shankar.

Siddaramaiah is visiting the constituency on Friday to take part in the launching of several development works and is expected to make a show of strength. There is also a strong demand from his supporters in Badami that he should contest again from that seat itself.

Siddaramaiah slapped one of the supporters when he was mobbed.

Meanwhile, supporters of R Shankar arrived at Siddaramaiah’s house in Bengaluru from Ranebennur and staged a protest demanding the party ticket to the former BJP minister. Siddaramaiah told them that a decision will be taken after the survey report is received. The supporters even surrounded his vehicle while he was about to leave, angering Siddaramaiah who slapped one of them.