Nikhil Kumaraswamy files nomination for Channapatna Assembly bypoll amid fanfare

Channapatna (Ramanagara dist): Legislative Assembly by-election fever gripped Channapatna constituency with the filing of nomination papers by BJP-JD(S) NDA alliance candidate Nikhil Kumaraswamy on Friday. 

The alliance organised a massive roadshow as a show of strength, similar to the one held by Congress when C P Yogeshwar filed nomination papers on Thursday. The roadshow, the BJP and JD(S) cadres claimed, lent enthusiasm to the workers.

The JD(S) workers, who had pressured the party leadership on fielding Nikhil Kumaraswamy, had gathered in large numbers. They raised slogans in his favour and their leaders. 

On the occasion, Nikhil’s father and Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy said those, who question his contribution to the development of Ramanagara district including Channapattana, should see the documents. “From the creation of the district, it is known who constructed everything - bridges, reservoirs, roads, colleges and offices. Since the time of (former CM and PM) Deve Gowda, we have worked for the development of the district.” 

He held Deputy CM D K Shivakumar responsible for the Vitthalenahalli Golibar incident in which two farmers died. “Those who never visited Channapatna so far are frequently visiting it to lure the voters. If they lose the election, they will never look back at the constituency,” he charged.

Bangalore Rural MP Dr C N Manjunath appealed to the voters to vote for Nikhil for development. 

BJP leaders R Ashoka, D V Sadananda Gowda and C N Ashwath Narayan were among those who accompanied Nikhil Kumaraswamy while filing the nomination papers.

Nikhil’s assets

The details of Nikhil’s (a BBM graduate) assets, as per his election affidavit, are as follows: Total value of the assets - Rs 107.49 crore (Rs 78.41 crore during previous election); Debt: ₹70.44 crore; Cash in hand: ₹4.66 lakh; He has no criminal cases pending against him and the total value of his wife Revathi’s assets is ₹5.93 crore. 
There is a bank deposit of ₹11.91 lakh in the name of son Avyan Dev N K.