Succumbing to pressure from former minister Gurupadappa Nagamarpally, who resigned from the primary membership of the Congress in protest against denial of ticket to him from the Bidar City seat, the Congress has given him the candidate.

Similarly following dharna by the defeated candidate from Ramadurga constituency in Belgaum district - P M Ashok infront of the KPCC office, the Congress has dropped the candidate N V Patil selected on Thursday and replaced him with Ashok.

The latter has been given ticket in contravention of the party guideline which said that no candidate who has lost by a margin of more than 15,000 votes would be given ticket.

Sonia-PM campaign

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and AICC President Sonia Gandhi will campaign for the Congress party on May 6 and 7 respectively.

Dr Singh will address public meeting in Bangalore City and Mysore on May 6, while Sonia will address similar meetings at K R Puram grounds and Tumkur City on May 7. The tour programme of Rahul Gandhi is still being worked out, according to KPCC President Mallikarjun Kharge.

The other candidates’ names announced on Friday are:  Raibag (SC)-Omprakash Shankaranand Kanagali, Belgaum Uttar-Firoze Saith, Belgaum Dakshin-Sambhaji L Patil, Gurmitkal-Baburao Chinchansur, Bidar South-Samad Siddiqui, Hubli Dharwad East (SC)-F H Jakkappanavar, Hubli Dharwad Central-Shankranna Munavalli, Hubli Dharwad West-Jabbar Khan Honnali, and Hangal-Manohar Tahasildar.

11 candidates

Kharge told reporters with today’s announcement of 11 candidates, the party has completed the process of selection for all but two Assembly segments -Shikaripur and Davangere North-that are gong to polls in all three phases. While the Congress has withdrawn its candidate in Shikaripur constituency in support of SP candidate S Bangarappa, in Davangere North the Congress candidate has been disqualified following rejection of his ‘B’ form.
Replying to a query Kharge said that this time tickets were given to 14 women candidates against seven in the 2004 election."

Kharge said that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and AICC President Sonia Gandhi will campaign for Congress candidates.

Singh in Bangalore

While Singh will campaign in Bangalore and Mysore on May 6, Gandhi will address public meetings at K R Puram Play Ground and Tumkur City. The tour programme of Rahul Gandhi has not been finalised yet.
Former Union Minister C M Ibrahim has on Friday formally joined the Congress.

Similarly former minster and right hand man of H D Deve Gowda - K B Mallappa - also joined the Congress. Kharge requested Ibrahim to campaign for the party.