Siddaramaiah may find it tough against former DGP Revannasiddaiah

Varuna, Karnataka, May 7 (UNI) Former Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Congress leader Siddaramaiah was locked horn with former Director General of Police Revannasiddaiah (BJP) in this agriculture dominated Assembly constituency which goes to poll in the first phase on May 10.

Though there are 10 candidates in the fray, the fight is between Siddaramaiah and Revannasiddaiah as JD(S) candidate Krishnaswamy is entering the fray for the first time. Union Minister Ramvilas Paswan led Lok Janashakthi, BSP and five independents are in the fray.

Siddaramaiah is testing his popularity in this constituency after having won five times from Chamundeswari since 1983. Varuna was carved out after delimitation process was undertaken.

There are 1.88 lakh voters including 91,580 female and 96,420 male. Spread across the three taluks of Mysore District-- T Narasipura, Mysore and Nanjangud. The majority of voters belonging to Lingayat community whose loyalty had been divided between the Congress and the Janata Dal (S) all these years, however, this time they may shift their loyalty towards BJP.

After carefully weighing between Chamudeshwari and Varuna Mr Siddramiah preferred Varuna to try his luck against Mr Revannasiddaiah, who after Congress denied ticket joined BJP which readily gave ticket.

Mr Siddaramiah said that though he had more attachment with the Chamundeswari constituency which gave him political life in all difficult situation, circumstances forced him to shift to Varuna.

The former Finance Minister, who presented State budget seven years had provided maximum funds for completion of long pending Varuna canal which enabled irrigation of about 80,000 acres of land.

On the other hand Revanasiddiah was front runner for Congress ticket from Chamundeswari assembly segment. After being denied by the ticket, changed the party and jumped into the fray with BJP ticket and pitching himself against Mr Siddaramiah.

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