Last Updated:
Yogeshwar’s last-minute switch from the BJP to the Congress for the Channapatna by-election was a bold gamble that paid off in a high-stakes political battle
The combined strength of DK Shivakumar and CP Yogeshwar put pressure on Kumaraswamy in the Vokkaliga-dominated constituency. (X)
A ‘jumping jack’ has literally floored the legacy of a 91-year-old who campaigned tirelessly for an entire week to ensure his grandson did not become a “hat-trick failure” — a destiny he couldn’t change.
CP Yogeshwar, popularly referred to as ‘Jumping Jack’ in his stronghold of Channapatna assembly constituency in Karnataka for his tendency to switch parties frequently, achieved victory despite a tough fight put up by the entire Deve Gowda family.
The nonagenarian patriarch of the JDS, HD Deve Gowda, campaigned extensively for his grandson Nikhil Kumaraswamy, personally seeking support from voters. Yogeshwar’s win, meanwhile, was his own effort and connect with the people and the backing of the DK brothers, say the Congress.
Yogeshwar’s last-minute switch from the BJP to the Congress for the Channapatna by-election was a bold gamble that paid off in a high-stakes political battle. His victory, though, came with unexpected challenges, including controversies sparked by his own Congress ally, Zameer Ahmed Khan.
“I move parties for my political survival. I have changed parties—be it contesting as an independent, for the JD(S), BJP, or Congress—all for political survival and for the betterment of the people of Channapatna. Whenever a party is in power, I use that power or join them for the betterment of the constituency. I am stable now with the development works I have brought. I quit the NDA to join the Congress because of HD Kumaraswamy and his family’s greed,” Yogeshwar told News18.
With this loss, the JD(S) seems to have sealed its fate in the Vokkaliga heartland, which the party and the Deve Gowda family claimed would always support them.
“He (Nikhil) was bound to become a ‘hat-trick hero’ in terms of losing elections. You know, Shiva Rajkumar, son of the iconic Kannada actor Rajkumar, earned the adage of ‘Hat-trick Hero’ because his first three movies were great box-office hits. But this leader’s third consecutive loss has made him a ‘hat-trick zero’,” quipped a senior BJP leader on condition of anonymity.
Yogeshwar, a five-time MLA and seasoned politician, entered the fray against Nikhil in a contest steeped in political rivalry. This time, both Sandalwood cine stars were battling for a blockbuster success in their political careers. Yet, it was Zameer Ahmed Khan’s remarks that became the focal point of the campaign, creating turbulence within the Congress.
During a rally, Khan targeted Kumaraswamy with a shocking comment, calling him “kalia” (black man) and accusing him of exploiting Muslim votes as a bargaining tool. “Yogeshwar did not join the JD(S) because ‘kalia’ Kumaraswamy is worse than the BJP. He’s looking to buy Muslim votes, but instead, all the Muslims will pool their money and buy your family,” Khan declared.
The statement, intended to energise the crowd, instead alienated voters. Congress leaders, including Yogeshwar, were visibly uncomfortable. “Zameer’s words were meant to consolidate Muslim votes, but they backfired, hurting us in other communities,” a visibly upset Yogeshwar told News18. However, it ultimately had little effect on his core voter base.
This victory was also seen as a comeback for DK Suresh who campaigned aggressively following his loss in the Bangalore Rural Lok Sabha seat to the BJP. The DK brothers, Shivakumar and Suresh, made it their mission to ensure a Congress win in the Channapatna seat, a prestigious battle for both parties.
Shivakumar set aside past differences with Yogeshwar, who had previously played a role in Suresh’s defeat in the Lok Sabha elections. Both leaders embraced the principle of “the enemy’s enemy is my friend” to challenge Kumaraswamy in Channapatna, a seat the JD(S) had won in the 2023 assembly elections.
At a press conference earlier, speaking on their unlikely coming together, Shivakumar had remarked: “Politics is the art of the possible.” “Congress blood flows in the veins of Yogeshwar. He started his political career in the Congress. He met me and said he would like to return to the party fold and resume his political career with us after being in the NDA for some time,” Shivakumar added.
The decision to bring Yogeshwar back into the Congress fold wasn’t without its challenges. He had pushed the BJP leadership hard, refusing their proposal to contest as a JD(S) candidate to maintain the alliance between the two parties. Kumaraswamy himself had reportedly agreed to the proposal.
“I have bent down to the ground. How much lower should I bend? There is a limit to my patience and tolerance. There is no question of making a decision contrary to the sentiments of the workers on the Channapatna candidate issue,” said Kumaraswamy in response.
Yogeshwar’s political journey has been one of frequent shifts. He contested his first election as an independent in 1999. In 2004 and 2008, he ran as a Congress candidate. By 2011, he had joined the BJP, won the Channapatna by-election, and later contested unsuccessfully on a Samajwadi Party ticket in 2013. He returned to the BJP in 2023 but lost the assembly election to Kumaraswamy.
“In spite of shifting from one party to another, Yogeshwar’s biggest plus point is his solid hold over 40,000 to 45,000 votes in the Channapatna constituency. This is what makes him important despite the many hats he has worn over the years,” a senior Congress leader told News18.
Shivakumar also recalled how Yogeshwar had worked with the JD(S) to support the NDA candidate in the Lok Sabha elections. “Political equations have changed, and hence he has come back to the Congress party,” Shivakumar said.
In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Channapatna was one assembly segment in the Bangalore Rural Lok Sabha seat where DK Suresh secured 84,000 votes while contesting against the BJP candidate and Kumaraswamy’s brother-in-law, Dr CN Manjunath. However, Suresh trailed behind Dr Manjunath in the Channapatna segment by almost 16,000 votes.
The combined strength of Shivakumar and Yogeshwar in this Vokkaliga-dominated constituency is now expected to increase pressure on Kumaraswamy.
Despite the controversies, Yogeshwar managed to turn the tide by leveraging his deep connection with Channapatna’s electorate and the Congress’s development-focused narrative. His grassroots outreach and Congress’s strategic support ultimately secured a hard-fought victory, shaking the JD(S)’s grip on its traditional stronghold.
- Location :
Channapatna, India
