DK Shivakumar, the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, on Saturday defeated B Nagaraju of the Janata Dal (Secular) from his traditional Kanakapura seat by a margin of 1,22,392 votes in the assembly election. Revenue minister R Ashoka of the Bharatiya Janata Party was also fielded against Shivakumar, an aspirant to be chief minister, in the assembly election.
DK Shivakumar, 60, had been elected from the seat in the last three Karnataka assembly elections in 2008, 2013 and 2018. Shivakumar, who began his political career in the early 1980s, has been elected as an MLA multiple times from the Kanakapura constituency. He has also been a minister in the Karnataka government on several occasions. He played a significant role in addressing power-related issues and initiatives in the state.
Ashoka had earlier said his candidacy has resulted in an election contest, in its true sense, taking place for the first time in the region after nearly two decades.
Ashoka said he felt he was a “trigger” for public anger against the rule that existed in the region for long to come out in the open.
In a surprise move, the BJP had taken the battle to the opposition camp by fielding Ashoka, who is considered to be the Vokkaliga face of the party, against Congress’ Vokkaliga strongman Shivakumar in his home turf, which is the community’s stronghold.
Ashoka said his task was to win the seat, along with building the party in the constituency, where it has virtually no presence.
