NDA candidate Nikhil Kumaraswamy offers prayers ahead of filing nomination papers

BENGALURU: National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate for Channapatna Assembly bypoll, Nikhil Kumarswamy, on Friday offered prayers at the Thirumalagiri Shri Lakshmi Venkateshwara Swamy temple in Bengaluru ahead of filing nominations for the upcoming Channapatna bypoll.

Nikhil Kumarswamy’s wife Revathi, Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy and grandfather and former PM H D Deve Gowda were also present. Nikhil Kumaraswamy expressed his happiness on getting the chance to fight in the elections. He said, “Today is a very big day for us. A lot of recent updates have taken place. I am happy I got the chance to fight for the seat. All the workers are with me in this fight. I am sure people will also bless me”.

NDA candidate for Channapatna Assembly bypoll Nikhil Kumaraswamy offers prayers at Thirumalagiri Shri Lakshmi Venkateshwara Swamy Temple in Bengaluru ahead of filing nomination.

His wife Revathi, father & Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy, and grandfather & former PM H.D. Deve Gowda… pic.twitter.com/vmTWoIq9M9

— ANI (@ANI) October 25, 2024

Union Minister H D Kumarswamy expressed that the party wanted to win the elections. He said “Our party wants to win the elections. Our party workers unitedly will fight this battle and ultimately win”.

On October 24, Nikhil Kumaraswamy was fielded for the upcoming Channapatna bypoll. Nikhil Kumaraswamy, who is also the JD(S) state youth wing president, will be competing against C P Yogeshwar, who joined the Congress on Wednesday after resigning as BJP MLC on Monday.

Notably, H D Kumaraswamy defeated Yogeshwar in the 2018 and 2023 Assembly polls from the seat. The seat fell vacant after Kumaraswamy won from the Mandya parliamentary segment in the last Lok Sabha polls.

#WATCH | Karnataka | On his son Nikhil Kumaraswamy to contest Channapatna Assembly bypoll as NDA candidate, JD(S) leader & Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy says, “This was not my decision or opinion. Our party workers pressurised him (to contest bypoll) and we took this decision…” pic.twitter.com/ifWmE1j5pE

— ANI (@ANI) October 24, 2024

The announcement was made by former Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa during a press conference. He also expressed confidence that the alliance would win all three seats in the upcoming by-polls. “We have announced Nikhil Kumaraswamy as NDA candidate. We are going to win all three seats… We are announcing, with the blessings of the high command leaders, that we field him. We’ll meet after we win 100 per cent…I don’t speak about who left the party; we will do whatever is required to make sure Nikhil Kumaraswamy wins,” he said.

Following the announcement, Nikhil Kumaraswamy said, “I have been touring panchayat headquarters in my constituency and that is only because Kumaraswamy ji said that we should take all the workers and leaders into confidence. I have been doing my work as a karyakarta and with the recent political developments that have taken place, the NDA has given me an opportunity. I have a lot of confidence in the Channapatna constituency people. They will bless me”.  (ANI)