Late Ananth Kumar’s widow Tejaswini to contest from Bengaluru South

Bengaluru, Mar 19: The Bharatiya Janata Party has reportedly decided to field Tejaswini Ananth Kumar, widow of late Union Minister H N Ananth Kumar from Bangalore South constituency. Ananth Kumar represented the constituency in the Lok Sabha for six consecutive terms since 1996.

Tejaswini had initially conveyed her reluctance to contest polls. However, state and central party leaders had been insisting that she make her electoral debut.

Former deputy chief minister R Ashoka met Tejaswini in the morning at the latter’s residence seeking that she contest the polls, for which she agreed. “Party leaders were insisting that I contest. I will go by their aspirations,” Tejaswini said.

Ashoka later held a meeting with party legislators, corporators and local leaders from Bangalore South segment.

Tejaswini knows the constituency well and was closely associated with development works taken up under MPLAD in the segment.

She runs the Adamya Chetana Foundation involved in supporting lesser privileged children. Politics, too is not new to her. Tejaswini was a youth leader with the ABVP, where she met Ananth Kumar, a fellow student leader.

“We were very keen that she contests from Bangalore South and continue the legacy left behind by Ananth Kumar,” BJP MLC and former minister V Somanna said.

After Ananth Kumar‘s demise in November last, top BJP leaders had made it clear that his family will not be let down. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on several public forums, had stated that Ananth Kumar’s death had left a huge void in the party.