Karnataka’s Congress chief-minister Siddaramaiah is contesting from two seats in the Assembly polls to be held in the State on 12th May, it has been reported from Bangalore. The chief-minister filed his nomination papers to contest from Badami and Chanundeshwari on Tuesday, which was the last day to file nomination papers to contest the upcoming Assembly polls.

The 224-strong Assembly is to be re-elected on 12th May as Siddaramaiah’s tenure as chief-minister concludes on 24th May.  Both the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP have been involved in an intense electoral campaign to woo the voters. While the Congress makes a bid to retain power for a second successive term, the BJP is attempting a comeback with former chief-minister Yediyurappa at the helm.

In 2013, Congress had won 122 seats while the BJP and JD (Secular) had won from 40 seats each. 22 seats had been won by other parties and independents.  Chief-minister Siddaramaiah, a law graduate, is sending a strong message about the Congress’ chances for a second straight win by contesting from two seats: Chamundeshwari and Badami. He presently represents Varuna in the State Assembly.

Siddaramaiah’s son Yateendra would now contest from Varuna. Siddaramaiah thus goes back to Chamundeshwari, the seat he had once held. As reported earlier, the chief-minister revealed his pro-Kannadiga stance on more than one occasion when he didn’t comply with Supreme Court’s instructions to release a specific quantum of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu to meet its agricultural and irrigation needs.