Big bro DKS is watching

He is going all out to get his brother the ticket for the Channapattana Bypoll seat

State Congress working president D K Shivakumar wants his brother to contest the assembly bypolls next month but there's a possibility that he may be second time unlucky.

In the parliamentary elections, the high command chose Tejaswini Gowda over D K Suresh to contest the Bangalore (Rural) seat.

But insiders say that Shivakumar has as good as convinced the high command to field Suresh from Channapattana and take on C P Yogeswar who quit the Congress to join the BJP before parliamentary polls.

Though Yogeswar was defeated by H D Kumaraswamy from Banglore (Rural), the star-turned politician is back with a vengeance, vowing to win an assembly seat for the BJP.

"Since Congress does not have a suitable candidate to face Yogeswar in Channapattana,u00a0 Shiva-kumar is using this to his advantage," said sources.

A confident Suresh has already started the groundwork in the constituency, meeting party workers and conducting several meetings at the block level.

The fact that Channapatna neighbours Shivakumar's constituency Kanakapura helps, said a local Congress leader in Channapattana. "We think Suresh will win if he is the candidate."

But sources say that it may not be so easy for the DKS duo. For, the high command is mulling an alliance with JD (S) to defeat the BJP. If the deal goes through, Congress will give up Ramanagar and Channapattana for JD(S) candidates and contest from Govindaraja Nagar, Chittapura and Kollegala.

Shivakumar, of course, is doing all he can to stop the deal. He is getting anti-JD (S) leaders in the Congress such as Siddaramiah, Srinivas Prasad and others to back him. Siddaramiah is already protesting.

"Siddaramiah has categorically said there should not be any understanding with JD (S) because it is not in the party's interest," said Srinivas Prasad. "However, it is up to the high command to take a decision."

Meanwhile, state Congress leaders including Shivakumar are expected to be in Delhi today to discuss the issue with the high command.

Get ready for another round
There will be by-polls in five constituencies in the state on August 18 Channapattana, Ramanagar, Govindaraj Nagar, Chittapura and Kollegala.

While Govindaraja Nagar fell vacant after V Somanna resigned from the Congress to join the BJP, the rest became vacant because representatives went out to contest the Lok Sabha polls held a couple of months back.