By fielding ‘strong’ Ashoka, BJP tries to break DKS stranglehold on Kanakapura

Press Trust of India

Kanakapura: Can the BJP, that has fielded a “formidable candidate” as part of its strategy to take the poll battle to the opposition camp here, find success in breaching Karnataka Congress President D K Shivakumar’s fortress of Kanakapura, nestled amid rocky terrains of Ramanagara district on the outskirts of Bengaluru? Answers to this question will be among the highlights of the May 10 Assembly polls in the state.

In a surprise move, BJP fielded senior party leader and Minister R Ashoka, who is considered to be its Vokkaliga face, against Congress’ Vokkaliga strong man Shivakumar in his home turf, which is the community’s strong hold. (S) too has fielded Vokkaliga, B Nagaraju from here. Seven-time MLA Shivakumar has been elected thrice from Karnakapura since 2008 and is now seeking a reelection for the fourth time here.

Speaking to PTI, Ashoka during the campaigning said, his candidacy has resulted in an election contest, in its true sense, taking place for the first time in the region, and there is a strong undercurrent against Shivakumar, and in favour of BJP. “My first priority is to assure people about free and fair elections. I’m the trigger for the people to vent the anger that they had in them for the last 20 years,’’ he said.