Contest from Varuna, not Kolar: Rahul Gandhi tells Siddaramaiah

Congress leader Siddaramaiah seems to be ready to make comeback to his home turf. The former Karnataka CM, who was keen to contest from Kolar, has been advised to contest from his Varuna Constituency where he had emerged victorious on a few occasions.

Gandhi has reportedly advised Siddaramaiah during the party's Central Election Committee (CEC) meeting held in New Delhi on Friday, News18 reported citing sources. "Your each minute and move is crucial and need by the party," the report claims the former party chief as telling Siddaramaiah.

Siddaramaiah had won the Varuna seat in 2008 and 2013. However, he vacated the seat for his son Yathindra in 2018 and he contested from Badami constituency where he managed to win the seat by over 1500 votes against BJP's Sri Ramulu a toughly-contested battle.

In January, Siddaramaiah announced that he would contest the upcoming state Assembly polls from the Kolar constituency. However, he said that the decision to field him from Kolar is subject to the approval of the party's high command.

"I have decided to be a candidate for the next election from Kolar. But it is subject to approval from the high command" Siddaramaiah announced at a public rally in Kolar.

He was hoping that Siddaramaiah's work in ensuring water supply for the drought-affected region by initiating Yettinahole Project and filling up tanks with KC Valley and HN Valley projects may garner vote.

More importantly, Kolar Assembly segment is dominated by AHINDA, which includes minorities, backward classes and Dalits. As a result, he had considered contesting in Kolar.

However, the BJP and JDS had targeted him from running away from Varuna to Badami and then announcing his wish to contest from Kolar where the BJP is expected to field Varthur Prakash.

The election date for the Karnataka assembly polls are yet to be announced and it is likely to be held in the month of May.