The Bengaluru Rural constituency is considered as a fortress of the D.K. Shivakumar’s family…reports Asian Lite News
The Bengaluru Rural constituency is likely to witness a high-voltage contest in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls as Deputy Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and family members of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda have taken it as a matter of prestige to ensure victory for their respective sides.
The seat is considered as a fortress of the Shivakumar family.
Shivakumar’s brother, D.K. Suresh, has represented the seat since 2013.
Former Karnataka CM H.D. Kumaraswamy registered victory in the seat in the 2009 general elections.
After his resignation, D.K. Suresh grabbed it from the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) in 2013 by-polls by defeating H.D. Kumaraswamy’s wife, Anita Kumaraswamy.
In 2014, and also in 2019, Suresh registered thumping victories.
Now, with the BJP and the JD-S deciding to field Dr. C.N. Manjunath, son-in-law of former PM Deve Gowda, as NDA candidate from the BJP, the seat is all set to witness an intense contest.
D.K. Suresh on Thursday told JD-S workers that they should take a call now as Deve Gowda’s son-in-law himself is not contesting for the JD-S but as a BJP candidate.
“Son-in-law has decided that JD-S led by Deve Gowda and his son, former CM H.D. Kumaraswamy is not good. JD-S workers will have to think on these lines. The intelligent son-in-law has chosen to contest for a different party. Their party workers will decide on the rest,” Suresh said.
Meanwhile, Congress’ Karnataka unit president D.K. Shivakumar on Thursday said that he respects C.N. Manjunath.
“Politics is different. It is shocking to see a family member of Deve Gowda contesting on a BJP ticket,” he said.
Former CM H.D. Kumaraswamy, reacting to statements of D.K. Suresh, said the services of C.N. Manjunath have been appreciated at the national level.
“But, this person (Suresh) has been bad-mouthing about him. He is nothing when compared to Manjunath,” he stated.
“I am pained to see the comments made against him. There is no question of tolerating if comments are made against Manjunath,” Kumaraswamy added.
Shivakumar Warns Pro-Kannada Activists
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Thursday warned pro-Kannada activists that they should not take the law into their own hands for implementing the 60:40 rule for the use of Kannada on signboards.
“60:40 signboards are mandatory. The government is committed to implementing it,” Shivakumar told reporters here.
” We allowed time because the manufacturing of the signboards was taking a lot of time. But I don’t want pro-Kannada activists to take the law into their own hands on this issue,” he added.
The deadline for complying with the rule ended on Wednesday. Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has said that the rule has already seen 98% implementation.
Earlier, Shivakumar orally announced the extension by two weeks of the previous deadline of February 28. His announcement came after BBMP started to shut down shops for non-compliance.
Karnataka Rakshana Vedike spearheaded the campaign for Kannada signboards in December 2023, which degenerated into vandalism on December 27 in the city.
The Commercial Street Shop Owners’ Association said that in Commercial Street, about 90% of shopkeepers have complied with the law. However, they expressed apprehension in forced implementation of the rule.
Meanwhile the Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar assured Bengaluru’s citizens that there was no water crisis in the city as the government had made alternate arrangements.
“As far as Bengaluru is concerned, there is no water crisis. We have made alternative arrangements. BJP is saying that we are releasing water to Tamil Nadu. This is absolutely false. I appeal to the PM and BJP MPs that we get permission for the Mekadattu dam” DK Shivakumar said.
Earlier the BJP had accused the state Congress Government of knowing well in advance about the looming water crisis in Bengaluru but acting against the interests of the people by releasing water to Tamil Nadu only to please its alliance partner. (ANI)
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