HDK sceptical of CM contesting from Chamundeshwari

Says Siddaramaiah will be routed from the constituency

Former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Wednesday expressed scepticism over Chief Minister Siddaramaiah contesting from Chamundeshwari Assembly constituency in the Assembly polls.

Speaking to reporters at Suttur Mutt here, Mr. Kumaraswamy predicted Mr. Siddaramaiah’s rout in the elections if he contests from the constituency.

Mr. Siddaramaiah won by a small margin of 257 votes during the byelections from Chamundeshwari segment in 2006 owing to the support he enjoyed from various leaders like former Ministers H. Vishwanath and Srinivas Prasad, he said.

Claiming that Mr. Siddaramaiah was hunting for safe constituencies to contest, he said surveys were being conducted in different constituencies.

In response to queries from reporters, Mr. Kumaraswamy did not rule out Mr. Siddaramaiah’s entry into the poll fray from Varuna or Koppal. “Don’t be surprised if he contests from Narasimharaja Assembly constituency by dispatching incumbent MLA to Raichur,” the JD(S) leader said.

Two segments

Mr. Kumaraswamy hinted that he is likely to enter the poll fray from two Assembly constituencies, including Ramanagaram.

He said the party will announce its second list of candidates in the next one week, including his name.