K.R. Pet: The moment his candidature was announced for the Mandya Lok Sabha seat, ‘Nikhil Ellidiyappa’ trolls that hit the social media and TV studios, literally introduced his name to people all over the world. Besides, he also became a household name in Mandya constituency, said Mandya Lok Sabha JD(S)-Congress coalition candidate Nikhil Kumaraswamy.

He was addressing the JD(S) party workers meeting, in the light of the K.R. Pet Town Municipal Council (TMC) elections, at MLA Narayangowda’s residence in Basaveshawaranagar in the town on Friday. He recalled that during the music album release of his film ‘Jaguar,’ his father H.D. Kumaraswamy had called out ‘Nikhil Ellidiyappa,’ which his rivals had trolled trying to put him on the back foot. However, that troll helped introduce him to his voters. As a result there is a lot of demand for the title ‘Nikhil Ellidiyappa’ in the Kannada film industry, he said.

He had never imagined that he would be nominated for the Mandya LS constituency. Only due to the pressure from all the eight MLAs, three Ministers and three MLCs in the district that he was forced to contest. It is not correct as a few people say that he was Deve Gowda family’s candidate, he added.

He learnt fully about the district during his 45 days’ campaigning and it looked like he had gained a political experience of about 20 years. He was confident of becoming an MP and after May 23, he would try to organise Udyog Mela for all the unemployed in the district and get jobs in reputed companies, he said.

He would dedicate his life to solve the problems of farmers and he would never betray the trust and the confidence reposed on him by the district’s voters and party workers. After the elections, he would not go anywhere, he did not need time to relax, he said.

He said that he was discussing with the officials and education experts about opening smart schools and colleges in the district and was not wasting his time, said Nikhil.

In the coming TMC elections, the party workers should work hard to see that all the 23 seats are won by JD(S) candidates. Those who have not got tickets must not be disheartened. In the coming days, there could be more opportunities for them and some of them would get good positions, he said.

District Minister C.S. Puttaraju said that the Chief Minister had sanctioned Rs.8,600 crore for the development of the district. But nothing was discussed about it during the elections and even the media did not cooperate.

Keeping in mind the all-round development of the district, Nikhil was nominated as the candidate. Besides, just like his father H.D. Kumaraswamy and grandfather H.D. Deve Gowda, he had great concern to serve the people. Nikhil’s presence is inevitable to take the party forward in the coming days, said Puttaraju.

Great respect for Siddharamaiah: There was no question of taking the losing candidates into confidence and working with them. He would work only with the winning candidates, is what he had said to the media in Bengaluru but never commented on Siddharamaiah. “A few media channels have twisted my statement. I have great respect for Siddharamaiah,” clarified Puttaraju.

‘I am hero for Nikhil Ellidiyappa  movie, Puttarajanna producer’

I am the hero for the film ‘Nikhil Ellidiyappa’ and Puttarajanna is the producer,” said Nikhil Kumaraswamy.

Addressing the JD(S) workers, he said that Nikhil Ellidiyappa dialogue was not only famous in the entire State but also in America. “There is a lot of demand for this title. Hence, I have requested the Film Board not to allot this title to anyone,” he said and added, in a lighter vein but indirectly taunting his opponents, that Minister C.S. Puttaraju will be the producer for the film he (Nikhil) was the hero.