Mysuru: BJP State President B S Yeddyurappa’a close aide K P Siddalinga Swamy on Tuesday Deember 12 said that at any cost he would not allow Shankar Bidari to contest from Varuna constituency in the next assembly elections.
Speculations are rife that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is trying to field former state director general and inspector general of police Shankar Bidari from Varuna constituency against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s son Yathindra who will reportedly make his political debut in the next elections.
Addressing a press meet, Swamy said, “Bidari does not belong to our district and he cannot contest from Varuna constituency since his contribution is zero. In the last elections, we had given a tough fight for Siddaramaiah here in this Varuna constituency. For the next assembly elections I am expecting a ticket from the party.”
Denying the reports that he was not in good terms with BSY, Swamy said, “I know BSY from the past 20 years. I have worked under BSY as his close aide and ours is a father-son relationship.”
In an open challenge, Swamy asked Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to contest from the Varuna constituency. “CM has launched several developmental works eyeing assembly elections. The statements made by the CM against D V Sadananda Gowda are in haste. I am ready to contest against Siddaramaiah,” he challenged.
