Chamundeshwari assembly constituency, which saw low-key campaigning during the elections, is witnessing high drama a day after the completion of polling.
Janata Dal (Secular)’s G.T. The constituency was expected to be a high-voltage contest with the Congress thanks to Siddaramaiah’s 2018 defeat at the hands of Deve Gowda. Therefore, the Congress opted to field M. Sidde Gowda, a one-time close aide of former prime minister and Janata Dal (Secular) supremo Deve Gowda, who had crossed over to the Congress from the JD(S) camp.
But as the campaigning got louder and more intense elsewhere in the state, Chamundeshwari went quiet, with Mr. GT Deve Gowda being the only candidate who went to seek votes on a daily basis. Mr. Sidde Gowda was believed to be ‘missing in action’, leading to speculation that there was a sort of ‘match fixing’ to enable Mr. Deve Gowda to emerge victorious.
An incensed Mr. Deve Gowda condemned such speculation and told media persons on Thursday that the Congress and Mr. Siddaramaiah in particular were ignorant about the constituency and were therefore making such wild speculations. ”Mister. Siddaramaiah has fielded a person who has not won the panchayat elections and expects him to win the assembly elections. Shri Deve Gowda said, when Shri Sidde Gowda himself has no followers in his native place Jayapur then how can one entertain such thoughts.
Mr. Sidde Gowda, on his part, Mr. G.T. Denied any suggestion of accepting a walkover or deliberately maintaining a low profile to help Deve Gowda. He also pledged to give a semblance of seriousness to his argument and refute such allegations and said that there was ‘no internal adjustment’ as was being speculated.
Mr. Sidde Gowda, who had joined the Congress a few weeks before the elections, accused a section of his own party men of spreading such rumors as the party bosses had decided to nominate him as a candidate despite being a new entrant in the party. was supported. He said, “This is the handiwork of some old leaders of the Congress, who are unable to digest that a newcomer is being fielded by ignoring the candidates of long standing.”
Mr. Sidde Gowda also blamed various factions within the Congress in Chamundeshwari for spreading such rumours. “Despite the confusion, the election is well fought by the Congress and I will win against Mr. Deve Gowda by a margin of over 1,000 votes,” he said.