Anitha Kumaraswamy may contest in Ramanagara bypoll

Anitha Kumaraswamy, wife of Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, is most likely to be the JD(S) candidate in the Ramanagara Assembly by-poll which is yet to be announced.

The by-poll was necessitated after her husband's resignation as MLA of the constituency. Kumaraswamy, who contested in two Assembly segments-- Ramanagara and Channapatna during elections in May, won both constituencies.

Strategic move

In a well-thought-out strategic move, he opted to retain the Channapatna seat, which was earlier held by his arch-rival, C P Yogeeshwara (who is now with the BJP).

Cakewalk for HDK

Ramanagara has voted Kumaraswamy to power in successive elections. The constituency is so benevolent to him, that he does not even require to campaign there.

HDK's promise to Anitha

Anitha, who was keen on contesting the Assembly elections from Channapatna, was not allowed to do so by both Kumaraswamy and party supremo H D Deve Gowda.

Long before the elections, Kumaraswamy announced that only two members from his family (himself and Minister Revanna, his elder brother) would contest the elections.

Kumaraswamy was forced to keep his word as the JD(S) was derisively dubbed as the 'Appa-Makkala' (father-son) party -- promoting dynasty politics.

Despite pressure from JD(S) workers and leaders in Channapatna to field Anitha, Kumaraswamy ended up contesting from the constituency; and Ramanagara.

Kumaraswamy is said to have pacified a miffed Anitha by promising the Ramanagara seat to her after the elections.

Though there were rumours that her son Nikhil too, was in the race for the ticket, Anitha's candidature is almost certain.

Both Anitha and Kumaraswamy are seen frequenting the constituency, with an eye on the by-poll. Incidentally, Kumaraswamy is holding a party worker's meet in Ramanagara today (Wednesday).

One time MLA

Anitha, a producer of Kannada films and serials, and a TV Channel owner, isn't new to politics.

In 2008, she made her political debut by winning the Madhugiri Assembly by-poll in Tumakuru district. She however suffered two consecutive setbacks in the later elections.

During the 2013 Assembly elections, Anitha contested and lost the Channapatna seat to Yogeeshwara. She was subsequently defeated in the 2014 Bengaluru Lok Sabha polls by Congress leader D K Suresh (brother of Minister D K Shivakumar).

Smooth sailing

Winning the Ramanagara seat, however, might be smooth sailing for the JD(S), as she is unlikely to face tough competition here.

While the BJP is yet to finalise its candidate for Ramanagara, the Congress will continue its alliance with the JD(S) in these elections too.

Alliance politics

The JD(S), in turn, will support the Congress in the Jamakhandi by-polls in Bagalkot, which was necessitated after the demise of Congress MLA Siddu B Nyamagouda.

The Congress is likely to field Nyamagouda's son Anand Nyamagouda in the constituency.

The 70-year-old Nyamagouda, who was popularly known as 'Barrage Siddu' died in a road accident on May 28.

Nyamagouda is hailed by the farmers of the region for his role in the construction of the Chikkapadasalagi barrage in Jamakhandi, nearly 30 years ago, without government support.