Nikhil Kumaraswamy to contest from Ramanagara?

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy on Thursday refused to quash rumours that his son Nikhil Kumaraswamy would contest Assembly elections from Ramanagara constituency, which is currently occupied by his wife Anitha Kumaraswamy.

The JD(S) legislature party president made the comments in the wake of the restart of the Pancharatna Rath Yatra in Magadi on Thursday. It will make its way to Ramanagara district on Friday. “The political future of my son Nikhil Kumaraswamy will be decided by the people, who gave birth to my political career as well,” Kumaraswamy said.

“Nikhil Kumaraswamy is already active in politics. I don’t fear announcing his name. I’m not worried about him joining in. Rather, I’m worried about the people of the state,” he added. H D Kumaraswamy had contested from both Ramanagara and Channapattna constituencies in 2018 and won from both.

However, he vacated the former, and his wife Anitha Kumaraswamy occupied the segment. On the day, JD(S) also welcomed youth leader Ranjitha Chikkamadu into the party fold. She is the daughter of former HD Kote MLA from the JD(S), who died of liver cancer in 2019.

GT Devegowda, who is said to be annoyed with his place at the party, was also present at this time. The yatra, which had been postponed due to rains, refers to the programme that the party is undertaking to create awareness about its promise to implement comprehen sive plans on free education, free healthcare, addressing the issues of farmers, guaranteeing employment for each family in the state, and free housing. The party plans on covering some 120 Assembly constituencies under the prog ramme by March.