Congress MLA from Bidar Rahim Khan says he is ready to give his seat to former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah if he wants to contest from the constituency.
“I am ready to give up my seat for Siddaramaiah if he wants to contest from Bidar,” said Rahim Khan in a press conference.
Siddaramaiah, who lost from Chamundeshwari constituency in 2018, is yet to finalise an Assembly seat to contest from in the 2023 elections.
Reacting sharply to Rahim Khan’s statement, AIMIM Bidar North President Atif Ashar said, “This is a sign of weak leadership. He (Khan) knows that he will loose. That’s the reason he is talking of relinquishing his constituency to Siddaramaiah.”
“No one should get a parachute candidate from outside and impose him upon us. The people of Bidar will not tolerate this. In the past few days, we are observe such babbling statement are coming in,” Ashar said.
Earlier in February this year, Chamarajapet MLA Zameer Ahmed Khan also offered his seat to Siddaramaiah. “I have decided to sacrifice my Chamrajpet Assembly seat for leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah to contest the next Assembly poll as there is a wave in his favour across the state,” Khan said.
Haunted by his loss from Chamundeshwari, the Congress leader is looking for a “safe” seat to sail through easily, and avoid the embarrassment of another defeat.
He has received requests from party workers from various constituencies to run for office in the districts of Varuna, Koppal, Badami, Kolar, Chamarajpet and now Bidar.
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Rabia Shireen is a Staff Reporter at The Cognate.