High-Stakes Assembly By-Polls: A Political Chess Game in Karnataka

Congress gears up for Karnataka Assembly by-polls on November 13. Annapurna, Bellary MP E Tukaram's wife, gets the Sandur ticket. Decisions for Shiggaon and Channapatna candidates pending. Speculation swirls around BJP's C P Yogeeshwara and Congress' D K Suresh for Channapatna seat amid strategic party maneuvers.

Congress is strategically positioning itself ahead of the crucial Karnataka Assembly by-polls scheduled for November 13. The party has announced that Annapurna, the wife of current Bellary MP E Tukaram, will contest from Sandur. However, candidates for the Shiggaon and Channapatna constituencies remain undecided, according to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

The party faces a pivotal decision for the Channapatna seat, with Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar's brother, D K Suresh, in contention. The November polls follow the vacating of seats due to elected representatives taking up Lok Sabha roles. Political circles are abuzz with speculation about BJP leader C P Yogeeshwara possibly joining Congress.

The BJP, conceding the high-profile Channapatna seat to ally JD(S), has yet to announce its candidate, while independent bids and strategic alignments add to the intrigue. Meanwhile, the relief effort is underway for those affected by recent rains in Bengaluru and other regions, as confirmed by the Chief Minister.

(With inputs from agencies.)