The Janata Dal (Secular) is likely to field a member from the former Chief Minister late S. Bangarappa’s family as its candidate for the Lok Sabha election from Shimoga constituency. Madhu Bangarappa, Chief Whip of the Janata Dal(S) in Legislative Assembly and son of the late Bangarappa, told presspersons here on Tuesday that the leaders of party’s district unit want a member from his family to contest the election. “If the party State leaders choose a member from my family as the party candidate, I will honour the decision,” he said.
During his recent visit to the district, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly and party leader H.D. Kumaraswamy said that the party would field a “surprise candidate” in the Shimoga Lok Sabha constituency. There was speculation in political circles that Shakunthala Bangarappa, wife of late Bangarappa, or one of his three daughters, would be the Janata Dal(S) candidate. Mr. Madhu Bangarappa said that “there is an impression among the people that if the Janata Dal(S) fields a candidate from the Bangarappa family, it would be easy for the party to win the election. The Janata Dal(S) has emerged as a strong political force in the district by winning three of the seven Assembly constituencies. My father had a strong support base here. The Janata Dal(S) will sure win the Shimoga seat.”
