CHIKKAMAGALURU: Speculation is rife among Congress party leaders in Mudigere over Home Minister Dr G. Parameshwar planning to test his luck from Mudigere Assembly seat in Chikkamagaluru in the 2018 election instead of Koratagere in his home district, Tumakuru.
It is rumoured that a letter has been sent to Dr Parameshwar by office-bearers of the district unit of Congress in Chikkamagaluru asking him to make up his mind on contesting from Mudigere, a reserved seat for Scheduled Castes (SC) and also assuring him that they would work for his success in the election.
But district Congress president Vijaykumar denied that any such letter had been sent inviting Dr Parameshwar to contest from Mudigere and contended that he was unaware of the development.
Dr Parameshwar unsuccessfully contested the 2013 Assembly election from Koratagere, also a reserved seat and the loss eliminated him from the race for the post of CM which went to Mr Siddaramaiah. Later, he became an MLC and went on to become Home Minister and district in-charge of Chikkamagaluru. Meanwhile, Congress leaders are banking on Dr Parameshwar to make his entry into Mudigere to unite party workers and win the seat back from JD(S). Besides, the district would have an influential leader from the party representing Chikkamagaluru.
“It is too early to speak on a change of constituency since the election is still a year and a half away,” said a Congress leader from Mudigere, who is close to Dr Parameshwar.
In 2013, sources said, the Congress fielded Chandrappa from Mudigere with some party workers saying it cost them a seat in the Assembly. The seat was won by JD(S) candidate B.B. Ningaiah by a slender margin. Mr Chandrappa is now the Chitradurga MP.
On Sunday, Dr Parameshwar met Mr Chandrappa at his residence in Bengaluru and reportedly sought his support to contest the next election from Mudigere. But, sources close to Dr Parameshwar dismissed this saying, “No political issue came up during the discussion between the two leaders.”
Sources close to Dr Parameshwar also claimed that he might contest from Pulikeshinagar Assembly seat in Bengaluru and preparations are underway.
