In Channapatana, suspected JD(S)-BJP covert entente threatens to unravel

The Congress is looking at Channapatana to take revenge on the JD(S), which, it believes, has an underhand deal with the BJP to stop it from getting a majority

Channapatana, taluk headquarters of Ramanagara district in Karnataka and famous for its wooden toys, is 67 km from Bengaluru.

It is in the midst of one of the more interesting battles in the assembly polls, involving former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy and his challenger CP Yogeshwara, a frequent party hopper but popular politician.

Kumaraswamy (58), the Janata Dal (Secular) leader and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda’s son, is also contesting from the neighbouring Ramanagara assembly seat, his home constituency. His decision to contest from Channapatana as well wasn’t received well by the party rank and file, but was dictated