Karnataka polls: Siddaramaiah won't contest from Kolar, claims Yediyurappa

Congress leader Siddaramaiah will not contest Assembly elections from Kolar but will go back to his home district Mysuru, former Karnataka Chief Minister and BJP leader B S Yediyurappa said on Monday.

Siddaramaiah had earlier this month announced that he will contest from Kolar, if the Congress high command agrees.

Also read: Will win from Kolar even if PM, Shah campaign: Siddaramaiah

“Today itself I will say one thing, don’t think I am making a prediction. Siddaramaiah will not contest from Kolar… He is playing a drama and is trying to go back to Mysuru,” Yediyurappa said.

Kolar is risky

Speaking to reporters in Belagavi, the former Chief Minister said the Congress legislature party leader was aware that he would face a defeat in Kolar.

“He is playing a political circus and drama, according to me, he will not contest from there (Kolar) and may try to go back to Mysuru. If that happens, we will do the strategy we need to,” the BJP leader added.

Also read: Karnataka Assembly polls: It’s Siddaramaiah vs BJP and JD(S) this time

Asked if Siddaramaiah may contest from two seats, Yediyurappa said: “I don’t know. It is left to their party. Let him contest from two or three seats, but going home is certain.”

One or two constituencies?

Siddaramaiah has, however, said he will contest the elections from only one constituency.

In 2018, he contested from two seats: Chamundeshwari and Badami.

He lost in Chamundeshwari (in Heysuru) to G T Deve Gowda of the JD-S by 36,042 votes. He won Badami, defeating B Sriramulu (BJP) by 1,696 votes.

Also read: Karnataka: Book on Congress leader Siddaramaiah kicks up a row

Siddaramaiah was the Karnataka Chief Minister from 2013 to 2018.