Byelections to the three Legislative Assembly constituencies will witness a straight contest between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party.
The Janata Dal (Secular), which has 40 members in the Assembly, has decided not to field its candidates in the polls scheduled on August 21. Saturday (August 2) is the last day for filing nominations.
The Congress announced its candidates on Friday. It has decided to field Ganesh P. Hukkeri, son of former Minister and Congress MP Prakash Hukkeri for the Chikkodi-Sadalga seat. The former legislator H.S. Shantaveerappa Gowda will contest the Shikaripur seat, and former Deputy Speaker N.Y. Gopalakrishna will stand for the Bellary (ST) seat.
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president G. Parameshwara has appointed Public Works Minister H.C. Mahadevappa as in-charge for Shikaripur constituency and Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar in-charge of the Bellary segment. Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj H.K. Patil and Water Resources Minister M.B. Patil have been given the responsibility of the Chikkodi-Sadalga constituency. All four Ministers have been asked to accompany candidates when they file the nomination papers on Saturday.
BJP nominees
The BJP is fielding its MLC Mahantesh Kavatagimath for the Chikkodi-Sadalga seat and B.Y. Raghavendra, former MP and son of former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, from Shikaripur. BJP Scheduled Tribe (ST) Morcha leader Obalesh will contest from the Bellary (ST) seat.
(The Hindu)
