‘Have a debt to repay’: After brother’s loss in Lok Sabha elections, DK Shivakumar hints at wish to fight Karnataka bypoll

There were speculations that Shivakumar’s brother D K Suresh, who lost the Lok Sabha elections from Bengaluru rural against BJP-JD(S) candidate Dr C N Manjunath, would be fielded in the bypoll.

However, while touring the Assembly segment, Shivakumar said, “Channapatna is in my heart. It was part of the erstwhile Sathanur Assembly constituency, which I represented. My political career started there. The people of Channaptna have been with me in tough times and I have a debt to repay.”

“There is an opportunity to develop Channapatna in the same way I have developed Kanakapura. I am visiting the temples of the constituency and discussing with the local leaders and voters and will make a decision on contesting later,” he said.

Asked about the possibility of his brother fighting the bypolls from Channapatna, Shivakumar said that it has not been finalised.

Who will be JD(S) pick from Channapatna

Meanwhile, according to a source in the JD(S), the party is contemplating to field Kumaraswamy’s son Nikhil Kumaraswamy in the bypolls from Channapatna. However, JD(S) core committee chairperson G T Deve Gowda said that the party is yet to have a discussion on the Channapatna seat.

Local leaders aware of Shivakumar’s desire

While for many, even within the Congress, Shivakumar expressing his desire to contest in bypolls has come as a surprise, a local leader said.

Speaking to The Indian Express, the Congress leader from Channapatna on condition of anonymity said, “Suresh’s loss in the Lok Sabha elections has hit Shivakumar’s political career. He knows that to keep H D Kumaraswamy away from dominating the Vokkaliga leadership, it is necessary (to win Channapatna). Nikhil Kumaraswamy has lost one Assembly and one Lok Sabha election and this is a crucial contest for him too. He wants to directly step into the battle.”

“On the other hand, (Shivakumar’s desire to contest the bypoll) is also to settle scores with the Deve Gowda family as his brother lost in the Lok Sabha elections,” the leader added.