Shamanur up against relative Siddeshwara in Davangere

Siddeshwara

By fielding ‘old war horse’ Shamanur Shivashankarappa, the Congress wants to tap into his experience.

This seems to be one last attempt at stopping the juggernaut of the BJP, which has been winning the seat non-stop since 1999.

Shivashankarappa, 88, had won from the constituency in his maiden attempt for the Lok Sabha in 1998. He lost in 1999 to G Mallikarjunappa of the BJP.

In fact, G M Siddeshwara, the sitting MP from the BJP, is related to Shivashankarappa.

Siddeshwara has been winning the seat continuously since 2004. Shamanur’s son S S Mallikarjun has lost to Siddeshwara in all these elections.

The Congress is looking to tap into the votes of the Lingayats, which traditionally go to the BJP. All in all, it will be a contest between relatives in Davangere this time round.