Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (DC)
Bengaluru, Apr 17: Dr Yathindra, son of chief minister Siddaramaiah is trying his luck in Karnataka politics by constesting from Varuna constituency in the upcoming assembly polls.
Dr Yathindra is known as a recluse and shy person unlike his father Siddaramaiah who is often considered daring and bold to the point of being impudent.
Yathindra was leading a normal life until his brother Rakesh Siddaramaiah met with an untimely death in Belgium. Even on the day of his father's oath-taking before a huge crowd of 50,0000, Yathindra had been to his diagnostic centre in Basaveshwara Nagar in Bengaluru to attend patients. He had not visited his father's office in Vidhana Soudha untill early 2017.
Yathindra who had kept himself busy with his medical practice shunning public life was forced to enter politics post untimely death of his brother Rakesh in Belgium in mid-2016. According to a report by News18, he was an unknown person to even Siddaramaiah's close circles until then.
Rakesh who was said to be the favourite son of Siddaramaiah was handling Varuna constituency in the absence of his father. With his sudden death, Siddaramaiah decided to groom his younger son Yathindra as successor to his elder son. Though initially he was reluctant to enter politics, Yathindra came out of his secluded life after months of hesitance after being persuaded by his father.
Even Siddaramaiah admitted that Yathindra is indeed 'shy' and recluse just like his mother Parvathi Siddaramaiah. "My son never used my name anywhere. He was shy but brilliant and is a rank student," the CM told News18. Talking about fielding his son from the Varuna constituency Siddaramaiah said that it was the wish of the people of the constituency. "No one will vote for him just because he is my son. They will elect him only if he has got good qualities. I am proud of my son. He is liked by one and all in the constituency. I am sure he will win," he said.
Tabu Rao, his close friend and wife of KPCC working president Dinesh Gundurao too was all praise for Yathindra, calling him a 'gentle soul'. "You will never see a man like him. He is a gentle soul, extremely good. No Chief Minister’s son can be so down-to-earth like him. He will do well in public life. Yathindra is also sharp and intelligent. He knows what is happening and how to handle tricky situations," she was quoted saying.
His friends too had defended Yathindra when the lab in which he was also a partner had bid for a contract to operate a laboratory at government-run Victoria Hospital in Bengaluru. However, Yathindra’s company decided to withdraw the bid following backlash. His friends said that it was unfair to prevent him from doing legal business just because he was chief minister's son. "He would have provided affordable medical services to poor patients. The politics came in the way. He is a highly qualified doctor. He does not need to run a lab outside a government hospital for money," one of his friends said.
But though a political novice, Yathindra is all ready to face his first election on a positive note. Speaking to News18 about his entry into electoral arena, Yathindra said, "Even if your father is a chief minister, you need to have leadership qualities. Otherwise you won’t succeed in politics. People accept you, if you are good to them. I have travelled across my constituency and succeeded in familiarizing with the local issues and the electorate."
BJP president Yeddyurappa has fielded his son Vijayendra against Yathindra in Varuna. But Yathindra chose not to comment on his rival. "Even if I lose, please do not blame my father for it. It would be my defeat. Not my father’s. But I am confident of winning," he said.