RAMANAGARA, 14 JUNE

BJP leader CP Yogeshwara on Friday claimed that Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and his brother and former MP DK Suresh had planned to field, Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa, who has been arrested in connection with a murder case, as Congress candidate in the upcoming Channapatna Assembly bypoll.

Channapatna bypoll is necessitated as the segment fell vacant following the election of its representative -- JD(S) leader and former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy -- to Lok Sabha.

"Their surprise candidate is behind bars now, I know who their surprise candidate is. Whom they wanted to field is caught in a murder case and is behind bars. Let the surprise candidate or anyone come, both parties (BJP and JD(S)) are ready for polls," the MLC, a former Minister, told reporters in response to a question on Suresh's recent statement about fielding a surprise candidate.

"The former MP (Suresh) was speaking about a surprise candidate. The person who is now caught in a murder case, they wanted that person as their surprise candidate, but it is not possible now. Maybe now they might look for another surprise candidate, let's see," he said.

He said: "He is a film star who has campaigned more for Congress. In the days to come they wanted to induct him in the Congress and the DK brothers (Shivakumar and Suresh) had planned to face the election through him."

Darshan and his associates were arrested on Tuesday for the murder of 33-year-old Renukaswamy, a fan of the actor. PTI

DKS rubbishes reports of pressure on govt to favour Darshan in murder case