Bommai Dismisses Speculation of Son’s Candidacy in Shiggaon By-Election
HUBBALI: Haveri MP and former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has dismissed speculation that his son, Bharat Bommai, is in the running for the BJP ticket in the Shiggaon by-election, clarifying that neither his son nor the residents of the Shiggaon-Savanur constituency have sought a ticket for him.
With Basavaraj Bommai’s shift to the Lok Sabha in the 2024 elections, the Shiggaon seat, which he represented for 15 years, is now vacant. Bharat Bommai’s name had surfaced among the potential candidates for the by-election, fueling speculation of a political succession.
“There has been no pressure from the constituency for Bharat to contest from Shiggaon. The meeting between the people of Shiggaon and Union Minister Pralhad Joshi was for a different purpose, but it has been misinterpreted,” Bommai clarified, adding that the people were advocating for party loyalists who have worked tirelessly during challenging times to be considered for the ticket.
"At that time Joshi mentioned Bharat’s name. I have not asked for a ticket for my son. There is no question of my son contesting," he clarified.
Shifting his focus to the state government, Bommai accused the Congress administration of bringing the state’s governance to a complete standstill. “The Congress High Command's decisions regarding Siddaramaiah are their concern, but what matters is the state of governance in Karnataka. The administration has come to a halt.The treasury is empty, and despite the drought, there has been no proper relief. Flood-affected areas have also been neglected. The government’s response has been inadequate, and this raises serious questions about its effectiveness,” Bommai said.
When asked about Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's standing with the Congress High Command, Bommai remarked that it is up to the party leadership to decide how long their support will last.
About former Governor Hansraj Bhardwaj, Bommai said, "Hansraj Bhardwaj was a politician who served as Governor. After leaving politics, he did nothing else but criticize the state government (BJP government) daily. The Congress supported his language and decisions back then because it suited them. Now, when faced with a similar situation, they criticize the Governor, raising questions about the Constitution and federalism. Governors are representatives of the President, and their position is very important. There are proper ways to express disagreement with their actions. If they follow those ways, the state government will earn respect. Criticizing the Governor will not benefit the Congress," he said.
When asked about the "Raj Bhavan Chalo" protest organized by the AHINDA group, Bommai dismissed it as a Congress-driven movement.