Karnataka bypolls: Nikhil Kumaraswamy is NDA candidate from Channapatna

NDA candidate for Channapatna by-poll Nikhil Kumaraswamy (3rd from right) with Leader of Opposition R. Ashok (3rd from left), Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and former CM B.S. Yediyurappa, at B.S. Yeddiyurappa’s house in Bengaluru on October 24, 2024.
| Photo Credit: SUDHAKARA JAIN

In what promises to be a thriller in the bypolls, Channapatna Assembly constituency will witness a mega battle as Nikhil Kumaraswamy has been named the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate to take on C.P. Yogeshwar, who filed his nomination on a Congress ticket on October 24.

Mr. Nikhil’s candidature as Janata Dal (Secular) candidate was announced by his grandfather and former Prime Minister H.D. Devegowda in Bengaluru after consultations with JD(S) party workers from Channapatna. Soon after, BJP strongman and former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa officially announced Mr. Nikhil as the NDA candidate.

This will be Mr Nikhil’s third foray into electoral politics. In 2023, he lost in Ramanagara constituency during the Assembly elections in Karnataka. Earlier in 2019, he lost the Mandya Lok Sabha constituency to independent candidate Sumalatha. At that time, Mr. Nikhil had contested in Mandya as the Janata Dal Secular-Congress alliance candidate when the alliance was in power and the government was headed by his father H.D. Kumaraswamy.

Mr. Yogeshwar is seen as a turncoat in politics, but has won five times from Channapatna Assembly constituency. Interestingly, he lost the last two elections (2018 and 2023) to H.D. Kumaraswamy.

In 2020, BJP had got Mr Yogeshwar elected to the legislative Council. Earlier this week, Mr Yogeshwar resigned from the Council and the BJP.

Mr. Gowda announced that Mr. Nikhil will contest from Channapatna and will be filing his nomination on October 25. The former Prime Minister said he, along with BJP leaders, would be with Mr. Nikhil during filing of nomination papers at Channapatna. Besides, he would campaign for his grandson for the by-election.

The party had been wary of fielding him in the Channapatna by-poll, which was necessitated by the resignation of H.D. Kumaraswamy after he won the Mandya Lok Sabha seat. Mr. Kumaraswamy is now the Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel.

While Mr. Nikhil was seen as a front-runner to contest on the NDA ticket and represent JD(S), Mr. Yogeshwar a five-time former MLA and former MLC was adamant on contesting from the BJP ticket. As there was no agreement on the issue, though JD S offered Mr Yogeshwar to contest on its symbol, he chose to join Congress on Wednesday. This development had put the JD S on the backdoor as it feared all forces opposed to it will align in this by polls. The Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and his brother D.K. Suresh, who lost to Mr. Nikhil’s uncle from Bengaluru Rural Lok Sabha constituency, are looking to avenge the defeat. JD S leaders are also wary of support from certain Vokkaliga leaders in BJP though the central leaders are completely backing the JDS.

Meanwhile, though Mr. Gowda announced Mr. Nikhil’s name earlier, Mr. Kumaraswamy and Mr. Nikhil along with several party leaders and BJP leaders met former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa to discuss the developments before formally announcing Mr. Nikhil as the NDA candidate. Leader of Opposition in Legislative Assembly R. Ashok and Leader of Opposition in Legislative Council were among those present in the NDA meeting.

The Channapatna by poll promises to be a cracker of contest given the high political stakes involved. While Mr. Shivakumar and Mr. Yogeshwar will be looking to avenge defeat, Mr. Devegowda’s family will be looking to retain the seat and their influence in the district. For, JD S could retain only Channapatna constituency in Ramanagar district and this constituency is now at stake.

Eom