Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar Declares Himself Congress Candidate For Channapatna Bypoll

Channapatna bypoll is crucial for DK Shivakumar to bolster his influence in the region and possibly avenge the recent defeat of his brother D.K. Suresh who lost the Bangalore Rural Lok Sabha seat.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar announced on Thursday that he will be the Congress candidate for the upcoming bypoll in the Channapatna Assembly constituency. This declaration was made during his participation in Independence Day celebrations in Channapatna, where he hoisted the national flag.

Even earlier, Shivakumar, who is also the President of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), made it clear that he would contest the bypoll, irrespective of other potential candidates from the party.

Despite not being the current MLA for Channapatna or the in-charge Minister for Ramanagara district, Shivakumar asserted his candidacy when questioned by reporters in Nelamangala later in the day, simply stating, "I'm the candidate", according to a report on PTI.

The Channapatna bypoll became necessary after its previous representative, JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy, was elected to the Lok Sabha in recent elections, leaving the Assembly seat vacant. The Election Commission has yet to announce the bypoll schedule.

Speculation has been rife within political circles, particularly within Congress, that Shivakumar might enter the fray to bolster his influence in the region and possibly avenge the recent defeat of his brother, D.K. Suresh, who lost the Bangalore Rural Lok Sabha seat. There are also suggestions that if Shivakumar wins the Channapatna seat, he might vacate his current Kanakapura seat for Suresh.

During his Independence Day speech in Channapatna, Shivakumar emphasised his commitment to the development and well-being of the local citizens, while also taking a subtle jab at Kumaraswamy for allegedly neglecting the constituency after his election to Parliament.

"It is an opportunity for me to come and hoist the flag here. For the last 35 years I have been participating in such events in Kanakapura, also Ramanagara and Bengaluru. Today I'm doing this pious work in Channapatna before you. As there is no representative (MLA) from Channapatna segment to hoist the flag, I have come here as the son of your house. I have not come to do politics, but to show how development can be made," he said, as per the report.