Shivakumar bets big on Old Mysore region

BENGALURU: Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president D K Shivakumar seems to have taken a huge gamble to win most of the seats in the Old Mysore region by playing the caste card and hoping that it will work for him and the party.

Old Mysore region is a Vokkaliga stronghold where the JD(S) has huge presence, but Shivakumar has persisted to portray himself as the leader of the community. He has high expectations from Mandya and Hassan this time hand had appealed to the Vokkaligas to strengthen his hand.

On the other hand, former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda is travelling across Old Mysore in an effort to save the JD(S)’ vote bank. Gowda too is determined to win the maximum number of seats from the region which now pits to two leaders against each other. Whether Shivakumar can manage to penetrate the JD(S) fortress remains to be seen.