Shivamogga: If present indications are anything to go by, veteran Congress leader and Revenue Minister Kagodu Thimmappa is likely to push for his daughter, Dr Nandini to contest the 2018 Assembly elections from the Sagar assembly constituency in Shivamogga district that he has represented for four decades.
Dr Nandini is fast being seen as her father’s successor in the constituency in recent months.
A practicing gynaecologist in Konankunte, Bengaluru, she has been participating in Congress party programmes in Sagar taluk over the past four to five months to become accustomed to local politics.
The state Congress party, which is searching for a new face to replace her octogenarian father, seems happy to have Dr. Nandini fill his shoes and contest the next assembly elections from Sagar and take on the might of Bharatiya Janata Party’s state unit chief and former Chief Minister, B.S.Yeddyurappa.
Dr Nandini, who did her schooling in Sagar and her medical education in Bengaluru, is still rooted in the culture and traditions of the Malnad region. Speaking to the Deccan Chronicle over the phone from Bengaluru, she said although no decision had been taken as yet for her to contest the next elections in place of her father from the constituency, she was spending time in Sagar to read the pulse of the people.
“As my father is still capable of contesting the assembly poll , he has to decide about me entering politics. Nothing has been finalised about my candidature,” she insisted.
But Shivamogga district Congress leader, N.Ramesh had no hesitation asserting that Dr Nandini would emerge as the new leader in Sagar, especially as there was no objection to her succeeding Mr Thimmappa.
“The response has been positive to her in Sagar. Even the party workers and office bearers of the Congress party are backing her,” he said.
