Congress leader and former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Wednesday filed nomination from Varuna Assembly constituency for upcoming Karnataka elections. Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said that he will quit electoral politics after Karnataka elections that are scheduled to take place next month. Addressing a rally in Mysuru's Varuna, he said, "After this election, I will quit electoral politics."
Shortly after filing his nominations, Karnataka Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said that his party is Secular and is not seeking votes on the basis of caste. The former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah filed his nomination from the Varuna Assembly constituency for the upcoming Karnataka Assembly elections.
"Congress is a secular party. We are not asking for votes on the basis of caste. We expect the votes from all communities, including Linagayts, Vokkaligas and other communities," Siddaramaiah told reporters. His remarks came in the wake of Karnataka Chief Minsiter Basasavaraj Bommai on Tuesday alleging that Congress is applying a divide-and-rule policy for Lingayats and Veerashaivas. "The party will decide," the Congress leader said when he was asked who will become the Chief Minister.
Earlier in March, former Karnataka CM and senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah said that he might contest from his home constituency of Varuna in Mysuru in the Karnataka Assembly Polls 2023. He also said that his supporters were telling him to contest from one more constituency but he will have to think about it.
Siddaramaiah, as per PTI, said, "From many constituencies, they (supporters and party workers) are asking.... From 25 constituencies they are asking (me to contest). I cannot contest from all 25 constituencies. There is one opinion at home that I should be contesting from Varuna, so I have said (to the party's central leadership), clear Varuna, let's see." Voting in Karnataka will take place on May 10 while results will be declared on May 13.
"At home they are saying that I should be contesting from one more constituency, let's see, I haven't thought about it," he said. Currently, Dr Yathindra Siddaramaiah, son of Siddaramaiah, is the MLA in Varuna. In 2018 too, Siddaramaiah contested two seats.