Siddaramaiah rules out contesting from his Badami seat

Kolar, Nov 14 : In a major development, senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah has officially announced that he will not be contesting the next election from his Badami assembly constituency.
He, however, clarified that the final decision in this regard will be taken by the Congress High Command.
“Badami is too far from here (Bengaluru) and I have no intentions of contesting from there once again. There are good leaders in Badami who can look after the people of Badami,” Siddaramaiah told reporters here on Monday.
He said he would like to contest either from Kolar or Varuna if the High Command asks him to do so. “There is no difference of opinion on it. Many people in Kolar want me to contest from Kolar in the next election,” he said.“I have also discussed the matter with the high command. They have asked me to choose one. Therefore I am doing it. But the final decision will be taken by the party high command,” Siddaramaiah said. Gopalaiah ridiculed Siddaramaiah saying that the LoP may continue to search for the constituencies till elections dates. He also said that requests are pouring in from Varua to contestants from there. The sitting MLA of Varuna is his son Yatindra Siddaramaiah, who is ready to vacate the seat for his father.In the 2018 assembly elections, Siddaramaiah had fought the election from two constituencies due to fears of facing defeat from the Chamundeshwari seat.In fact he lost the Chamundeshwari seat.
, but won Badami seat with a very thin margin, overwhelming BJP’s B Sriramulu.
Siddaramaiah also oozed confidence of the Congress romping home in the next election as people are tired of corruption of BJP leaders in the state.
Meanwhile, the BJP said fears of losing election from Badami has prompted Siddaramaiah not to contest from there.
“The LoP (Siddaramaiah) has decided to change the constituency for the 2023 assembly elections fearing defeat,” Karnataka Excise Minister Gopalaiah told reporters in Hassan.
He also suggested Siddaramaiah to stick to Badami from where he won the election and take up the promised development works.
Gopalaiah ridiculed Siddaramaiah saying that the LoP may continue to search for the constituencies till elections dates.