Ex-Karnataka chief minister and senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah will contest the 2023 Karnataka Assembly election from Kolar, which is roughly 60 km from state capital Bengaluru. However he also stressed that it is subjected to the approval of high command.
Addressing a rally in Kolar on Monday, he said, “Today among the people of Kolar, I would like to announce that Kolar is going to be the place for my election battle.” Siddaramaiah had earlier ruled out any chance of contesting from Badami – the seat he won in the 2018 poll. The congress has not released its list of candidates as yet.
Speaking to reporters earlier, Siddaramaiah had said, “Badami is too far from here (Bengaluru; it is about 450 km away) and I have no intention of contesting from there once again. There are good leaders in Badami who can look after the people of Badami.”
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In the 2018 election Siddaramaiah contested from both the Badami and Chamundeshwari constituencies; he won in Badami against the now-ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and lost Chamundeshwari to GT Devegowda of the Janata Dal (Secular).
Meanwhile, the former chief minister has alleged the BJP is trying to tarnish his image by spreading misinformation via newly-launched books about him.
He was referring to book launched on Monday titled ‘Siddu Nijakanasugalu’.
According to news agency PTI, the book is about alleged misrule during the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government and his ‘appeasement politics’. It also highlights certain controversial and communally sensitive issues linked to Siddaramaiah’s tenure as Karnataka chief minister.
“Purposely to humiliate me ahead of the elections, they are bringing out this book. It is totally defamatory. I will see what is to be done legally,” Siddaramaiah said.