Karnataka bypolls: CM, DyCM, Union Ministers accompany party nominees; 58 in all file nominations

As the deadline for filing nomination papers for the byelections to Davangere South and Bagalkot Assembly constituencies ended on Monday (March 23), nominees of both the ruling Congress and Opposition BJP filed several sets of nomination papers before the respective returning officers in Davangere and Bagalkot. Road shows and public meetings were also held on the concluding day of filing the nomination papers.

In all, 19 candidates have filed 26 sets of nomination papers for the Bagalkot seat, while 39 candidates filed 45 sets of nomination papers for Davangere South before the deadline ended on Monday. The bypolls have been necessitated owing to the demise of former Ministers H.Y. Meti and Shamanur Shivashankarappa.

While the Congress nominees were accompanied by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Ministers S.S. Mallikarjun, Satish Jarkiholi, and others, BJP nominees were accompanied by former Chief Ministers B.S. Yediyurappa and Jagadish Shettar, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, BJP State president B.Y. Vijayendra, former Minister B. Sriramulu, and others.

Road shows and processions were held by both the parties before filing nomination papers, which were subsequently followed by public meetings.

Rebel in fray

The Congress, which took time to finalise the candidates, is facing rebellion in Davangere South, where there was strong demand for representation of Muslims. Sadiq Pahilwan has rebelled against the party and on Monday filed another set of nomination papers.

Congress candidate Samarth Shamanur Mallikarjun was accompanied by Mr. Siddaramaiah, Mr. Shivakumar and his father S.S. Mallikarjun when he filed another set of nomination papers along with the ‘B’ form. Both Mr. Siddaramaiah and Mr. Shivakumar expressed confidence of pacifying the rebel Congress candidate.

In Bagalkot, along with the Chief Minister and his deputy, Ministers R.B. Thimmapur and Satish Jarkiholi accompanied candidate Umesh Meti, son of former Minister H.Y. Meti, when he filed his nomination papers. Ministers M.B. Patil, Shivanand Patil and other leaders took part in the procession, which was held prior to the nomination filing.

Unlike the Congress, the BJP had assigned a different set to leaders to accompany its candidates while filing nomination papers on Monday. While Mr. Vijayendra was in Bagalkot during the nomination filing by Veerabhadrayya Charantimath, former MLA, Mr. Yediyurappa accompanied party nominee Srinivas T. Dasakariyappa in Davangere.

Mr. Yediyurappa also took part in the road show at Davangere with former Union Minister G.M. Siddeshwar, former Ministers C.T. Ravi and M.P. Renukacharya, A. Narayanaswamy, Bangaru Hanumanthu, and others.

Withdrawal of nominations can be made until March 26 and polling will be held on April 9.