Former Karnataka Chief Minister 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."
"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.
Till now, Siddaramaiah had won twice from Varuna. In 2013, when Siddaramaiah became the Chief Minister he was elected from the seat.
During the Central Election Commitee meeting last week, Congress leadership including Rahul Gandhi allegedly advised Siddaramaiah to not contest from Kolar since it's 'risky'.
Stating that the high command had left the decision to him, and had asked him to be available for campaigning across the state ahead of the elections, he had said, "I will speak to my son and my wife and arrive at a decision."
This election will be the last one for 75-year-old Siddaramaiah since he announced that the assembly poll 2023 will be his last. He also said that he will not contest from Chamundeshwari constituency in Mysuru. In 2018, as a sitting CM, Siddaramaiah lost to JD(S)' GT Deve Gowda by 36,042 votes from Chamundeshwari constituency.