Hebbal by-poll: For DK Shivakumar, it's now or never

Bengaluru: The Hebbal Assembly by-poll is crucial for energy minister D.K. Shivakumar who has been eyeing the KPCC president’s post for long.

A section of party workers feel he is a master strategist when it comes to winning elections. Mr Shivakumar was out of favour after the 2004 elections due to his feud with former MP, Tejaswini Gowda, who is now in the BJP and senior leaders like B.K. Hariprasad. He was not even included in the cabinet when the Congress came to power in 2013. There was a time when Congress leaders felt agriculture minister, Krishna Byre Gowda would emerge as ‘the Vokkaliga face’ of the party surpassing Mr Shivakumar.

But in two years, Mr Shivakumar has managed to wipe out the negative image with his dedication. He ensured his brother D.K. Suresh’s win in the Lok Sabha elections from Bengaluru Rural. He was made  in-charge of Ballari assembly by-poll and snatched the seat from  B. Sreeramulu of BJP.

Sources said central leaders now acknowlede his worth. If he can win Hebbal, he could perhaps convince the top brass that he can even win a seat in Bengaluru city though he is not from the area. Two, he could position himself for the KPCC chief post which is very crucial ahead of  the 2018 assembly elections.

Congress strongman slams cash charge
Terming the accusations of vote purchase levelled by Union law minister Sadananda GowdA as  'false' and 'baseless', Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar wondered if Mr Gowda would owe moral responsibility for the ‘defeat’ of BJP candidate, Mr Y.A. Narayanaswamy because of internal bickering within the saffron party.  Talking to reporters here, Mr Shivakumar said Mr Gowda was making such statements out of frustration as the BJP  candidate will be rejected by voters of Hebbal  constituency.

The BJP leaders have so far not explained why they fielded a sitting Council member, Mr Narayanaswamy as  candidate  who still has over two years of his tenure left, he said.