Ramamurthy, who comes from a family with political connections and a sizeable land holding in Bangalore, was initially touted to be angling for a BJP ticket, but is now banking on the Congress. “I thought I could be closer to public service in politics than by being in the Government. Having roots in Sarvagnanagar I am familiar with the people and problems,” he says.

According to Shivaram he is entering politics to serve people directly after serving them through the police force for decades.

Over the years Karnataka has seen several policemen enter politics. In the last parliamentary polls former Bangalore police commissioner H T Sangliana, an IPS retiree, was elected from Bangalore North on a BJP ticket. In the 2004 polls, Assistant Commissioner of Police from the Crime Branch Abdul Azeem had retired voluntarily to contest on a JD(S) ticket in Bangalore, and lost. Former Bangalore police commissioners P Kodandaramaiah and L Revannasiddaiah, both IPS retirees from a few years ago, are still active in politics.