Karnataka Deputy CM Shivakumar Says he is Congress Candidate for Channapatna Assembly Bypoll

Bengaluru: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Thursday said that he is the Congress candidate for Channapatna Assembly bypoll. Earlier too, Shivakumar had said that he is the candidate, irrespective of whoever contests from the party. The Deputy Chief Minister participated in the Independence Day celebrations and hoisted the national flag in the by-poll bound Channapatna for the first time today, which was seen with political connotations.

Shivakumar, who is also the Karnataka Congress chief, is neither the MLA representing Channapatna nor the in-charge Minister of Ramanagara district, which was recently renamed as Bengaluru South, under which Channapatna taluk comes. Later in the



day, replying to reporters' question in Nelamangala on the city outskirts as to who will be the Congress candidate from Channapatna, he said, "I'm the candidate." He did not elaborate further.

Earlier, too, he had dropped enough hints that he might contest the by-poll from the segment. Shivakumar currently represents the neighbouring Kanakapura segment. Channapatna bypoll is necessitated as the seat fell vacant following the election of its representative -- JD(S) leader and now Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy -- to Lok Sabha in the recent elections. The byelection schedule for this Assembly seat is yet to be announced by the Election Commission.