There has been speculation that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah might contest from Badami in Bagalkot district, besides Chamundeshwari from Mysuru district. Mr. Siddaramaiah confirmed to The Hindu that there was “demand by leaders in north Karnataka” that he should contest from “any one of the constituencies from north Karnataka”, but he was yet to take a call on it.
“I may or may not,” he said, adding that there was no pressure from the party high command to contest and there was no “threat” for him in Chamundeshwari. “Seven times I had contested from Chamundeshwari and I have won five times. I know each and every village; , know each and every voter by name. there can be no doubt about my victory in that constituency,” he said, dismissing the rumour that he was contesting from a second constituency for fear of losing from Chamundeshwari. Mr. Siddaramaiah claimed that his victory was assured “even if the rumours about the BJP and the JD(S) coming together” to defeat him is true.
