Alongside man who defeated him, former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah says he will never again contest from Chamundeshwari; beseeches party workers to defeat BJP

Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddarmaiah on Sunday said he will not contest again from Chamundeshwari assembly constituency in Mysuru, where he had tasted defeat during the May 2018 assembly polls. Incidentally, Siddarmaiah on Sunday shared the stage with old-time-friend-turned-rival G T Deve Gowda, who defeated him in the assembly polls in 2018. Both were campaigning for coalition candidate C H Vijayashankar of Congress for the second phase of Lok Sabha polls on  April 18.

Speaking at the joint election campaign of Congress and JD(S) in Jayapaura of Chamundeshwari assembly segment in Mysore, he said:

"I appeal to you with folded hands...I will not contest from this constituency once again, I'm making it clear. You all should work together for the development of this constituency, this constituency should develop. I have won here five times; this constituency gave me political birth." 

Siddaramaiah, the then sitting Chief Minister, had lost the 2018 assembly polls in Chamundeshwari to JD(S) G T Deve Gowda by a margin of over 36,042 votes. However, he won Badami, the other constituency in North Karnataka from where he had contested.

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The former Chief Minister appealed to both Congress and JD(S) workers to defeat the BJP in Lok Sabha polls. Sitting MP Prathap Sinha is the BJP candidate from Mysore. Siddaramaih had earlier indicated that 2018 would be his last election.

Making his debut in the Assembly in 1983, Siddaramaiah got elected from Chamundeshwari on a Lok Dal Party ticket, he has won five times from this constituency and thrice tasted defeat. Congress and JD(S) formed the government after the 2018 assembly polls in a post-poll alliance as the result gave a hung assembly.

According to the seat sharing arrangement for the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections 2019, Congress is contesting in 21 seats and JD(S) on seven. The Congress managed to secure Mysore Lok Sabha seat as Siddaramaiah was adamant about not ceding it to JD(S), which was also demanding the constituency, under G T Deve Gowdas leadership.

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