Congress may finalise Lakshman from Mysuru, Sunil Bose from Chamarajanagar for LS polls

MYSURU: After the BJP announced that Mysuru royal family scion Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar will be its candidate for the Mysuru-Kodagu Lok Sabha seat, the Congress has decided to field M Lakshman as its candidate in that seat. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah made the announcement to local leaders on Friday evening.

The CM categorically refused to field his son and former MLA Dr Yathindra Siddaramaiah in the fray for the Lok Sabha election and told the local leaders that for no reason will Yathindra contest. “At this stage, Yathindra should not contest. Don’t bring up the same issue before me”, he told the local Congress leaders in a stern tone. “If the BJP and JD(S) were not in alliance, it would have been a different issue. We need a Vokkaliga candidate and hence, Yathindra should not contest”, he reasoned.

Meanwhile, Social Welfare Minister H C Mahadevappa, who was reluctant to contest the Lok Sabha polls from Chamarajanagar, has managed to get the ticket for his son Sunil Bose. The name was finalised after a final round of meeting on Friday evening. The CM tried to convince Mahadevappa till the last minute, but when he did not agree, Sunil Bose’s name was finalised.

Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah also told local leaders to be wary of speaking about Yaduveer as the royal family has an emotional connect with the people of the district. “You can criticise the BJP, but not Yaduveer, Any slip and it could hurt us. Focus on our government’s guarantee schemes and the BJP’s lies, but don’t get into issues concerning Yaduveer as it can affect us not only in Mysuru but elsewhere too”, he advised them.