The upcoming legislative council polls in Karnataka, scheduled for June 18, have become a focal point of political maneuvering, particularly for the state's new Chief Minister DK Shivakumar. The JDS party, led by Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy, has unexpectedly fielded a candidate, Govindaraju, forcing a contest where a unanimous election was previously anticipated. This move is seen as a proxy war between Shivakumar and Kumaraswamy, with the JDS reportedly securing the backing of BJP MLAs for their surplus votes. With eight candidates now vying for seven seats, the election has become a test of Shivakumar's political strategy, as he faces the possibility of disgruntled Congress MLAs cross-voting, which could result in a significant loss of face for him and potentially impact his standing within the party.