The former Chief Minister and Janata Dal (S) leader, H.D. Kumaraswamy, MP, on Sunday declared that he would contest the Assembly bypoll from Channapatna.
Addressing a party workers' meeting at Channapatna, near here, Mr. Kumaraswamy said he would file the nomination papers on Wednesday for the April 9 byelections.
The JD(S) leader's announcement came amid pressure mounted on him by party workers, who had gathered for the meeting convened to discuss the candidate for the bypolls.
Bangarpet (SC) and Jagalur (ST) are the other two constituencies going to the polls.
When Mr. Kumaraswamy sought a few more days to finalise the candidate, the restive party workers appealed to him to make the announcement at the meeting itself as the poll date was fast approaching. Mr. Kumaraswamy then said he would enter the fray as per their wishes. The bypoll to the Channapatna Assembly constituency became necessary following the resignation of M.C. Ashwath, who has since joined the BJP.
The BJP has announced C.P. Yogeshwar as its candidate. Congress leader in-charge of Karnataka Sanjay Nirupam, who was in Bangalore recently, elicited the opinion of party leaders on the possible candidate.
Hassan Staff Correspondent writes:
Reacting to Mr. Kumaraswamy's decision, Mr. Gowda said: “Mr. Kumaraswamy has grown politically. That is his individual decision.”
