DK Suresh springs surprise, files nomination from Kanakapura

In a surprise development, Bengaluru Rural MP DK Suresh on Thursday filed nomination papers from the Kanakapura Assembly constituency for the Karnataka Assembly elections.

Suresh is the brother of Congress state chief DK Shivakumar, who has also filed nomination papers for the Kanakapura seat.

"Bangalore Rural MP D K Suresh filed his nomination today to contest the state assembly election from Kanakapura constituency," Karnataka Congress tweeted.

Reportedly, Suresh has filed his papers, as a backup plan in the event of Shivakumar's nomination getting rejected.

Shivakumar has won from Kanakapura segment thrice since 2008.

The ruling BJP has fielded a senior Minister and its prominent Vokkaliga face R Ashoka from Kanakapura to take on Shivakumar.

He had earlier said that he was not interested in coming to state politics, when speculations were rife that he may be fielded from Ramanagara, against JD(S) leader and former CM H D Kumaraswamy's son Nikhil Kumaraswamy.

There had also been speculation that as a "retaliatory measure" to BJP's plan of fielding a strong candidate against Shivakumar in Kanakapura, Suresh may be fielded from the Padmanabhanagar segment, the other seat from where Ashoka is contesting. Shivakumar too had earlier hinted in this regard.

Going by affidavit, DK Shivakumar faces a total of 19 cases against him, which include tax evasion, and money laundering cases filed by the Enforcement Directorate, and the CBI. He also disclosed that he has six cases filed against him by the state government under the Epidemic Control Act for violating the COVID-19 guidelines during the Mekedatu Padayatra.