Karnataka byelections: Two sons and daughter spice up race for ticket

BENGALURU : Dynasts are back in focus with byelections to three assembly segments — Channapatna, Shiggaon, and Sandur — around the corner, and the issue involves all three major parties — JD(S), BJP and Congress — since each held a seat each.
MLAs who relinquished these seats to contest the Lok Sabha polls, are lobbying for the ticket for their children and are all finding it difficult to sway respective party brass for different reasons.
BJP’s state core committee will meet on Monday to shortlist candidates for the three seats and the legislative council seat from Dakshina Kannada and Udupi local authorities, which fell vacant after incumbent MLC Kota Srinivas Poojari quit after winning the Udupi-Chikmagalur Lok Sabha seat.
“Since JD(S) is an NDA ally, candidates will be shortlisted after factoring in all issues including the coalition principle and winnability. The high command will take the final call,” said CN Ashwath Narayan, former deputy CM and BJP core committee member.
Of the three constituencies, Channapatna is the most high-profile since Union minister HD Kumaraswamy, who represented the seat before winning the Mandya LS seat, wants to field his son Nikhil on a JD(S) ticket. But, BJP’s local strongman, CP Yogeshwar, has emerged a serious contender.
Having won from here five times in the past, Yogeshwar, who lost to Kumaraswamy in 2023, is determined to recapture the seat — regardless of the cost. He has even threatened to contest as an independent or defect to Congress if he is denied the NDA ticket.
But JD(S) is equally keen on retaining Channapatna. The regional outfit is said to have rejected a proposal to allow Yogeshwar to contest on a JD(S) ticket. And while Kumaraswamy wants to field Nikhil, the JD(S) think tank has reportedly advised against the move given Nikhil’s electoral track record. Nikhil had lost from Ramanagara assembly seat in 2023 and the Mandya Lok Sabha seat in 2019. JD(S) seniors say he should nurture Ramanagara and wait for the next assembly election.
“Since Channapatna is a JD(S) seat, the NDA candidate will contest on our party symbol. We have a handful of winnable candidates, and the party will choose one,” said KA Tippeswamy, MLC and election coordinator of JD(S).
Bharat the frontrunner
In Shiggaon, former CM Basavaraj Bommai’s son Bharat is the front runner for the BJP ticket but party brass is weighing options as it is wary of incurring criticism for fostering dynastic politics if Bharat is fielded. While Bommai will have a say, the high command is likely to consult Union minister Pralhad Joshi and others.
“The primary objective is to retain the seat. We will work unitedly to support any candidate the high command chooses,” said Bharat.
Valmiki scam hurdle
Congress MP E Thukaram, who gave up Sandur after he won Bellary Lok Sabha seat, wants the party to give his daughter, E Vandana, the ticket, while his wife E Annapurna’s name is also doing the rounds. But the Valmiki ST Development Corporation scam has come in the way, as cash was allegedly siphoned off and spent on his Lok Sabha poll campaign. The Congress high command is now in two minds.