The Election Commission has accepted the nomination of DK Shivakumar, the Congress state president, for the Kanakapura assembly constituency, paving the way for a high-profile contest against Revenue Minister R Ashoka of the BJP. Shivakumar is a seven-time MLA from Kanakapura, which has been a Congress stronghold since 1989. His brother DK Suresh had also filed nomination papers as a backup candidate in case Shivakumar’s nomination was cancelled. The BJP has fielded minister R Ashoka from Kanakapura, which is a stronghold of the Vokkaliga community. The election is expected to be one of the most high-voltage contests in the May 10 polls.
The BJP has fielded minister R Ashoka from Kanakapura. Mr Ashoka, who belongs to the Vokkaliga community, is considered a close aide of former chief minister BS Yediyurappa.
The Kanakapura seat, which is located in Ramanagara district, is a stronghold of the Vokkaliga community, which accounts for over 60 per cent of the electorate. R Ashoka is a prominent Vokkaliga leader and has been a minister in the Karnataka state government since 2008. The BJP is hoping to capitalize on his popularity within the community to win the Kanakapura seat, which has traditionally been a Congress stronghold. The Vokkaliga community is one of the dominant castes in southern Karnataka and has significant political clout in the region.
