Aspirants, who failed to make it to the list, vented their ire at the leadership by tendering their resignations and holding protests. Some leaders are also considering either contesting as rebels or joining rival parties.  

Cine Actor Jaggesh, who was a strong contender for the Turuvekere Assembly seat in Tumkur district, has resigned from the primary membership of the party following denial of ticket to him. Jaggesh, who unsuccessfully contested in the 2004 election, wants to enter the fray as an independent in the same constituency.

Unhappy over the denial of ticket to Muninarasimhaiah from Devanahalli Reserved constituency, a worker is said to have assaulted senior Congress leader K C Kondaiah.Venkataswamy has been chosen as party candidate for the seat.

Congress workers of Mahadevapura, Hebbal, Byatarayanapura, Sarvagna Nagar and Yelahanka have expressed anger over denial of tickets to local candidates. A large number of workers from Mahadevapura and Sarvagna Nagar constituency on Sunday staged a protest at the KPCC office.

Similarly former MLA from Nagamangala L R Shivarame Gowda also protested with his supporters at the KPCC office. He threatened to join the BJP or the JD(S).

There is also strong resentment over selection of Ravishankar Shetty as Congress candidate for the Hebbal seat. Shetty, who recently joined Congress along with M P Prakash, is said to have been selected following pressure from Union Minister Oscar Fernandes.

Similar unhappiness is   brewing in Tumkur following denial of ticket to former MLA Muddu Hanume Gowda and Ansuyamma, wife of late Y K Ramaiah.

The upper hand

Vokkaligas have got an upper hand in the first list of candidates. Of the 84 candidates, around 35 candidates are said to be Vokkalingas. This is followed by SCs with 15 seats, Muslims-6, Balija and Kuruba-4 each.
The number of Lingayat candidates in the districts that are going to polls in the first phase has come down from nine in 2004 election to four this time.

Even though representation to women is not upto the demand made by women leaders, it is said to be better this time. As against total six tickets given in 2004 election(out of 224), five candidates been given tickets out of 84. “The number will go up and in all more than 12 women candidates will get seats”, KPCC Spokesman V S Ugrappa said.