Mysuru, 15 Jan   

Former member of parliament Pratap Simha said he will contest from the Chamaraja Assembly segment in Mysuru city in the next State Assembly polls.  The Chamaraja seat has emerged as a flashpoint within the BJP.

He said that he chose Chamaraja as it is one of stronghold of BJP, with HS Shankaralinge Gowda being elected thrice from the constituency. He also said that it had a high number of educated voters in the Vokkaliga dominated constituency.

The constituency is currently held by Congress MLA Harish Gowda, who defeated BJP MLA L Nagendra in the 2023 Assembly polls. 

Nagendra and neurologist Dr Shushrutha Gowda, who joined the BJP in 2024, have announced their intentions to contest from the seat.

Nagendra, who is also the BJP’s Mysuru unit President, questioned Simha’s absence from the BJP’s campaign in the Chamaraja segment during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He urged the former MP not to confuse voters and party workers with premature statements.