Don’t pay heed to rumours that I’m contesting from Ramanagara: Anitha Kumaraswamy

BENGALURU: Sitting JD(S) MLA from Ramanagara, Anitha Kumaraswamy, has yet again quashed rumours that doing the rounds in political circles that she will be contesting the upcoming Assembly election. In a series of tweets, she clarified that she is giving up her Ramanagara seat in favour of her son Nikhil Kumaraswamy and asked partymen and supporters to not to believe in rumours.

“I have noticed that some people are systematically spreading rumours that I will contest in the Assembly election 2023. It is a completely false and part of a misinformation campaign. There is no question of me contesting the election. I have already made it clear last year that I am giving up my constituency for my son Nikhil. Then, where does the question arise about me contesting?”

“In 2008, I contested the by-election after Operation Lotus, respecting and following the orders of former Prime Minister Deve Gowda and  Kumaraswamy. In the next election, I gave up my Madhugiri seat to Veerabhadraiah and limited myself to home and party activities. I contested from Channapatna in 2013 on the request of partymen and supporters. Even then, I only followed the orders of the party and superiors”, Anitha said.

Continuing her tweet, she said, “During the 2018 by-elections, when other leaders were planning to defeat the party, I again contested from Ramanagara constituency on the directions of JD(S) supremo Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy. I obeyed and followed the orders of the party and senior leaders. I am grateful to the people of Madhugiri and Ramanagara for treating me like a daughter and ensuring my win. I am indebted to the people of Channapatna constituency”, she wrote.

“I have worked hard for development in all fields given the opportunities that I have had. I have taken a back seat from the electoral battlefield and am working only for the development of the party and the welfare of the people in my constituency. Thus, my humble request is that no one should spread or believe such rumours. I have followed the orders of the party in all the elections, but I never insulted or created a bad image for the party built by the former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda and never showed disrespect to the family. I will never do that in the coming days too. Please respect my feelings”, Anita Kumaraswamy wrote on Twitter.