BENGALURU, 22 OCT

Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Tuesday said BJP Chief JP Nadda has advised him to field saffron party leader CP Yogeeshwara on the JD(S) ticket for the Channapatna Assembly bypoll in the State.

“Three days ago, BJP national president called me and said he will ask him (Yogeeshwara) to resign (from BJP) and join JD(S). He said he would give approval if he (Yogeeshwara) is fielded as the JD(S) candidate. What else the (BJP) national president can say?” he asked. The Union Minister further said he told Nadda that the alliance is important and not the seat. "I want the NDA winning. He said he is ready to bow."

According to Kumaraswamy, Nadda opined that there should be a JD(S) candidate from Channapatna seat. “With such leaders I don’t wish to spoil my relations, which you all should understand,” Kumaraswamy told the party workers.

The by election in Channapatna is due on 13 November along with Sandur in Ballari and Shiggaon in Haveri district in the state. BJP has announced fielding Bangaru Hanumanthu from Sandur segment and former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai’s son Bharath Bommai from Shiggaon assembly constituency.

However, the party has left to its ally JD(S) to decide on Channapatna candidate as the seat is considered to be a JD(S) bastion, for Kumaraswamy had won from here in 2023 Assembly election defeating Yogeeshwara.

The former chief minister wanted to field his son Nikhil Kumaraswamy, but Channapatna strongman Yogeeshwara’s moves have made the JD(S) first family jittery. -PTI