Siddaramaiah changes tour plan to focus on Chamundeshwari, Varuna

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who is apparently leaving no stone unturned to ensure Congress' victory in his constituency Chamundeshwari, and his son Dr Yethindra's Varuna constituency; has made many alterations in his campaign trail plans this week.

The CM's focus on the two constituencies is so intense that he has asked AICC Karnataka in-charge and party General Secretary K C Venugopal, KPCC president G Parameshwara and Power Minister D K Shivakumar to come down to Mysuru for discussions.

Since the release of the Congress candidates list on Sunday, in which Siddaramaiah is given a ticket only for Chamundeshwari, it is learnt that the CM is unhappy. His demand for a ticket to contest from Badami in Bagalkot was refused by the high command, it is learnt.

Earlier, Siddaramaiah was scheduled to tour villages under Chamundeshwari and Varuna constituencies on Monday and Tuesday and leave for state-wide tour on Wednesday.

But, when Siddaramaiah stayed put in Mysuru on Wednesday also, the party grapevine had it that the CM would stay back until the filing of his nomination papers on Friday. Senior party leaders rushed to Mysuru on Wednesday night to meet the Chief Minister.