In Key Karnataka Clash, DK Shivakumar’s MP Brother Enlists As His Backup

Taking no possibilities withinside the high-stakes contest for the Kanakapura seat in subsequent month`s Karnataka meeting election, the Congress has drafted its nation unit leader DK Shivakumar’s brother as his backup withinside the occasion of a last-minute disqualification. DK Suresh, who represents Bengaluru Rural Lok Sabha constituency, filed his nomination papers on Thursday, days after DK Shivakumar submitted his papers for the May 10 election. The move, which got here hours earlier than the cut-off date for submitting nominations, amazed many.

Mr Suresh, the best Congress Member of Parliament from Karnataka, had in advance stated that he turned into now no longer interested by coming to nation politics, amid rumours that he may be fielded from Ramanagara, in opposition to Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) chief and previous Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy’s son Nikhil Kumaraswamy.

The step is visible as a precautionary degree with the aid of using the Congress in case DK Shivakumar’s nomination is laid low with the continued investigations with the aid of using the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Income Tax (IT) branch in opposition to him in reference to alleged cash laundering and tax evasion cases.

DK Shivakumar, who’s taken into consideration one of the maximum influential and effective leaders withinside the nation, has been going through a sequence of raids and summons with the aid of using the significant organizations for the reason that 2017. He has denied any wrongdoing and accused the BJP-led significant authorities of political vendetta.

The Congress chief is searching for re-election from Kanakapura, a stronghold of the Vokkaliga network to which he belongs. He has received seven meeting elections for the reason that 1989, with a margin of over 80,000 votes in 2018.

The BJP, that’s eyeing to wrest energy from the ruling Congress-JD(S) coalition withinside the nation, has fielded former minister R Ashoka from Kanakapura. Mr Ashoka, who belongs to the dominant Vokkaliga, is taken into consideration a near aide of former leader minister BS Yediyurappa.

There had additionally been hypothesis that as a “retaliatory degree” to BJP’s plan of fielding a robust candidate in opposition to Mr Shivakumar in Kanakapura, Mr Suresh can be fielded from the Padmanabhanagar segment, the opposite seat from wherein Mr Ashoka is contesting.

The election in Kanakapura is anticipated to be one of the maximum high-voltage contests withinside the May 10 polls. The outcomes of the election can be introduced on May 13.