In Channapatna's 'Kurukshetra', Nikhil Kumaraswamy Emerges As 'Abhimanyu' After Bypoll Loss

Last Updated:November 23, 2024, 21:29 IST

The Channapatna seat was likened to the epic Mahabharata battle with JD(S) drawing inspiration from one of Nikhil Kumaraswamy’s films, 'Kurukshetra', in which he plays Arjuna's son Abhimanyu

In Nikhil Kumaraswamy's (R) case, voters were asked by his father and Union minister HD Kumaraswamy if they wanted his son to emerge as an Arjuna or an Abhimanyu. (Image: Instagram)

A disheartened Nikhil Kumaraswamy of the JD(S), who lost the bypoll to political bigwig CP Yogeshwar of the Congress on Saturday, said this is not the end and he will continue to work for the people of Channapatna.

The bypoll contest started like a nail-biting movie script but ended with the Congress securing victory – a fitting story, if not a satisfying end for Nikhil, an actor and politician. Even the poll campaign of the JD(S) drew inspiration from one of Nikhil’s films, the Kannada period drama ‘Kurukshetra’, in which he played the role of Abhimanyu.

The Channapatna seat, hence, was likened to the battle of Kurukshetra from the Mahabharata. As the epic goes, Abhimanyu, Arjuna’s son, makes a valiant sacrifice much to the delight of his opponents – the Kauravas, likened to the Congress here.

So, the bypoll unfolded like a fast-paced entertainer, blurring the lines between ‘neta’ and ‘abhineta’ with both the candidates, who were movie stars, battling for a blockbuster success in their political careers.

In Nikhil’s case, voters were asked by his father and Union minister HD Kumaraswamy – who vacated this seat after winning the Mandya Lok Sabha seat – if they wanted his son to emerge as an Arjuna or an Abhimanyu.

Kumaraswamy was confident in his son’s ability to rise as Arjuna and not Abhimanyu, and he played his cards well. “It looks like the JD(S) may have wanted to make Nikhil an Arjuna, but in the process, he became Abhimanyu, much like the role he played in the movie," said a local Channapatna leader on condition of anonymity.

According to the epic, Abhimanyu learns the strategy of breaking into the ‘chakravyuh’, a formidable labyrinthine military formation, while inside his mother’s womb as his father Arjuna tells her all about it. But, the warrior could not learn how to exit the maze because his mother falls asleep at that point. Later on Day 13 of the battle, this leads to him being captured and killed by the Kauravas.

Nikhil’s political journey is also much like his debut film ‘Jaguar’ – a revenge drama where the protagonist has to fight against all odds. He has often referred to himself as a “reluctant politician", and initially hesitated to contest this election after suffering two earlier defeats.

In his third electoral loss, Yogeshwar defeated him by a margin of 25,413 votes. The veteran, who had recently jumped ship from the BJP after being denied a ticket (as it was reserved for the JDS), secured a big win for the Congress. His fellow Kannada actor and five-time MLA also took a significant risk by switching sides from the BJP to Congress only days before the polls.

“I bow to the decision of the people and respect the mandate," said Nikhil after the results were declared. “Despite setbacks, I will not sit idle and will fight with renewed determination. This loss will not discourage me, and we will introspect on where we went wrong and identify areas for improvement."

During his poll campaign, he had told News18: “My political career has been marked by defeats in the two elections I contested. I reluctantly entered this election after party workers insisted and gave me the strength to fight. I have only faced setbacks in my political journey so far, but I appeal to the people of Channapatna to give me a chance to serve them as devotedly as my grandfather and father did."

Kumaraswamy also made an emotional appeal on behalf of his son: “I am putting my son in your (voters’) lap, and I leave the decision to you. If we have made any mistakes, punish us."

ABHIMANYU, NOT ARJUNA

The people of Channapatna ultimately decided to make Nikhil an Abhimanyu, and not an Arjuna as his father hoped. After stepping into politics, he had previously lost two elections in 2019 and 2023. But, his “forced" return has only added to his list of setbacks.

In the 2023 assembly elections, he failed to secure the Ramanagara seat vacated by his mother Anitha Kumaraswamy. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, he lost the Mandya seat to M Sumalatha, an actor-turned-politician and the widow of popular Kannada actor Ambareesh.

Both times, the JD(S) attributed his defeat to opposition forces rallying against the Gowda family. Sumalatha, backed by the BJP at the time, emerged victorious in what was seen as a significant defeat for the family. This time, however, his third defeat is seen as one that could definitely put the party on the backfoot.

The grandson of former prime minister HD Deve Gowda, he is now being touted as the future leader of the Janata Dal (Secular). He carries the weight of the party’s dynasty, especially as his cousins – Prajwal Revanna and Suraj Revanna – face serious criminal charges of rape and kidnapping.

THE HEIR TO JD(S)?

Nikhil’s political trajectory and future leadership role is being carefully moulded by his family, particularly by Deve Gowda, who has positioned him as the heir to the JD(S). At present, he is serving as the president of the youth wing, but he has the full backing of his father and grandfather.

He first came under media scrutiny in 2006 when he was embroiled in a high-profile brawl as a teenager along with friends at a popular hotel on Church Street. This was during his father’s first term as chief minister.

However, since this incident, he has largely focused on his film career, stepping into the role of politician once in a while. His active political re-entry began with his participation in the Bengaluru-to-Mysuru ‘padyatra’ organised by the Democratic Alliance (NDA) to protest alleged irregularities in land allotment by the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA).

News elections In Channapatna's 'Kurukshetra', Nikhil Kumaraswamy Emerges As 'Abhimanyu' After Bypoll Loss