The ‘last election’ that never is, be it Siddaramaiah or HD Kumaraswamy

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BySouth First Desk

Published Feb 14, 2023 | 6:28 PMUpdatedMar 29, 2023 | 1:04 PM

Karnataka Hindutva laboratory

Is “this is my last election” the go-to phrase for senior politicians come election time? That is the impression one would get if you go by the number of times senior leaders have resorted to this “emotional” appeal to voters when any election is round the corner.

Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader Siddaramaiah on Tuesday, 14 February, reiterated that the Karnataka Assembly elections of 2023 will be his last electoral battle. He had already said this earlier, on 5 February to be precise.

So what is the big deal about it? Well, nothing except that the former chief minister had said exactly that ahead of the 2018 Assembly elections as well. And yes, you guessed it right, he said that ahead of the 2013 elections as well.

Also read: When an aide’s anti-Brahmin comment hurt Siddaramaiah

After the 2013 elections, Siddaramaiah became chief minister of Karnataka and completed a full five-year term — a rarity in recent times in Karnataka politics.

Siddaramaiah is now 75 years old and maybe this time around his claim of the 2023 polls being his last (citing his age) is reliable. But he isn’t the only politician who has made this “last election” claim in poll-bound Karnataka.

JD(S) legislative party chief HD Kumaraswamy — who is much younger at 63 — also recently said that the 2023 Assembly polls will be his electoral battle.

We say it isn’t going to be. Wanna bet?