Fresh Assembly Elections in Karnataka in 2024, says DK Shivakumar

  Bengaluru: Hinting at a collapse of Congress government in Karnataka, Janata Dal Secular (JDS) leader and former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy stated that the State would face fresh Assembly polls next year and asked his party men to prepare for the fresh polls.

Karnataka went for Assembly polls in May this year and Congress party romped home winning 135 seats and returned to power. Its leader Siddaramaiah was elected as the Chief Minister while president of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee D.K. Shivakumar is the Deputy Chief Minister. Two opposition parties-Bharatiya Janata Party and JDS have forged an alliance to face 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Addressing a closed door party workers meeting in Ramnagar on Sunday, Kumaraswamy stated that “Assembly polls in Karnataka are not in 2028 but in 2024” and said that “None can stop an election from happening.” He claimed that he was aware of political developments taking place and “It is inevitable for the State to face fresh polls.”

Kumaraswamy said to win in Magadi and Kanakapura Assembly seats in the fresh polls apart from retaining Channapatna won by him in May 2023. Taking a jibe at his political rival D.K. Shivakumar, Kumaraswamy said “I do not know whether that person (D.K. Shivakumar) will contest against the Kanakapura seat in the fresh polls.”

“I may be driven back to my native place Hassan but not to Tihar jail (referring to D.K. Shivakumar who was put in Tihar jail over a disproportionate assets case),” he said and also stated “It would not be a surprise if ( D.K. Shivakumar) would be back in Tihar jail again.

Reacting to Kumaraswamy’s statement, D.K. Shivakumar said he (Kumaraswamy) has revealed his plans and “He is telling what all can he do?” He pointed out that Kumaraswamy as Chief Minister booked cases against my sister and brother and now he (Kumaraswamy) has recalled them.