Nikhil Kumaraswamy stumbles for second time in polls

BENGALURU: Actor-turned politician Nikhil Kumaraswamy, son of Janata Dal Secular (JDS) and former Chief Minister H.D. Kumarswamy was trounced in Ramanagar Assembly seat by Congress nominee Iqbal Hussain in the results announced on Saturday. It is Nikhil's second straight loss in elections after he suffered a defeat in Lok Sabha poll in Mandya in 2019.

It was Congress nominee's second try in the Assembly poll. Earlier, he lost to the JDS nominee and former Chief Minister in the 2018 election.

In the past, Ramanagar seat was represented by former Prime Minister H.D. Devegowda in 1994 and when he became the Chief Minister. Ramanagar was later represented by Nikhil's his father H.D. Kumaraswamy who won in 2004, 2008, 2013 and 2018 election.

In the 2018 election, Kumaraswamy contested on dual seats-Ramanagar and Channapatna and won from both the seats. He later resigned Ramanagar seat to retain Channapatna seat. In the ensuing bypoll in 2018, Nikhil’s mother Anitha Kumaraswamy won the seat. In the 2023 election, Anitha decided to make way for her son in the Ramanagar seat.

There was anti-incumbency against JDS in Ramanagar seat and Nikhil Kumaraswamy had to face the wrath of voters during his campaign at villages, as people had complained that they faced drinking water problems and that his mother did nothing substantial to improve the condition of the people.

A Congress leader D.M. Vishwanath stated that “It is a shame that people in Ramanagar town have been supplied water with tankers.”

It may be recalled here that Nikhil Kumaraswamy unsuccessfully contested the Mandya Lok Sabha election in 2019 and lost to his nearest rival Sumalatha Ambareesh by a margin of over a lakh votes.