Congress nominee Umesh Meti files nomination papers in Bagalkot

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and other leaders joined Umesh Meti, party candidate for the Bagalkot bypolls, when he filed his nomination papers on Monday.

The leaders drove in an open van decorated with images of the former MLA H.Y. Meti whose death resulted in the bypolls.

District in-charge Minister R.B. Thimmapur flagged off the rally.

Minister Satish Jarkiholi, who is also one of the leaders in-charge of the Bagalkot bypolls campaign, Ministers M.B. Patil and Shivanand Patil and other leaders joined the procession.

Umesh Meti started the day by paying his respects at his father’s grave. He later visited Killa Raghavendra Swami Temple and Kottaleshwar Swami Temple.

He filed three sets of nomination papers, once with the Chief Minister and the second time with Minister Satish Jarkiholi and others.

Mr. Meti submitted nomination papers to Returning Officer Santosh Jagalasar.

Mr. Shivakumar told reporters that the party has chosen Umesh Meti after conducting a survey among party workers and gauging the mood at the booth level and not because of other considerations.

“As per our tradition, we have chosen a young candidate. We are seeing a huge response to our candidate from voters in rural areas. A lot of leaders and workers from the BJP are joining the Congress. Some independent candidates in the fray have expressed support to the Congress nominee,” he said.

Mr. Shivakumar said that the State government has taken up several irrigation projects in North Karnataka and several other projects have been fast-tracked.

“This will provide a permanent solution to the problems of farmers. Our work will give a response to our critics. BJP leaders are making baseless allegations against us, for the fear of losing. They are desperate. Our guarantees and development works have reached every section of society and they are with us. We are confident of winning both Bagalkot and Davangere,” he said.

Mr. Siddaramaiah said that the State government is taking all steps to realise the dreams of H.Y. Meti, in making Bagalkot a developed district. “We have already announced a government medical college for the district and set aside funds for it. This was the dream of Mr. Meti. He wanted children of farmers and the rural poor to become good doctors. We are setting up government medical colleges in all districts and this is one of them,” he said.

“Mr. Meti was my friend. I know that if the college were to have been established in his life-time, he would have been very happy. But that did not happen. We will fulfil his dream now,” he said.