A loss in Bellary would have weakened Shivakumar’s position in the Congress as being a leader from the dominant Vokkaliga community.

The new responsibility is an open endorsement by the Modi-Amit Shah combine that the 73-year-old Shimoga MP mattered a lot to the party.

Young and suave Priya Krishna has retained his status of the richest candidate with assets of over Rs 910 crore.