In a surprise move, Karnataka Congress chief D.K. Shivakumar's brother D.K. Suresh, filed his nomination as an independent candidate from the Kanakapura assembly constituency on Thursday. Shivakumar is the party's candidate from this seat. The development, just hours before the deadline for filing nomination for the upcoming assembly polls, is a 'precautionary, measure, DKS told reporters.
Suresh is the Congress's MP from Bangalore Rural. According to Congress sources, Suresh has filed his papers, as a backup plan in the event of Shivakumar's nomination getting rejected as he has a number of cases pending against him. "Although there are no convictions, we wanted to play it safe," Congress sources told the Deccan Herald.
The ruling BJP has fielded senior minister and its prominent Vokkaliga face R. Ashoka from Kanakapura to take on Shivakumar. Ashoka is also contesting from Padmanabhanagar constituency, and it was earlier speculated that Suresh will be fielded from this segment to take on the BJP veteran.
Suresh, the Congress's lone MP in the state, had dropped hints about his candidature but had not revealed the constituency. “They have told me to file nomination and keep all the documents ready. I am waiting for the AICC leaders to tell me their decision,” he said on Wednesday. Speculations were rife that he Congress candidate in Padmanabhanagar, Raghunatha Naidu, would withdraw his nomination to make way for Suresh.
The BJP fielded Asoka from Kanakapura in an attempt to dent the Congress votes in the constituency where Shivakumar has tasted victory thrice.
The Congress and the BJP are set for a fierce poll battle, even as the saffron party braces for turmoil and defections. Upset with the candidates list, two prominent Lingayat leaders of the BJP—Jagdish Shettar and Laxman Savadi—joined the Congress earlier this week. The state goes to polls on May 10.