The nomination paper of former legislator K P Bachegowda has been rejected, while that of N Radhakrishna has been accepted for Chikkaballapur Assembly constituency.
Radhakrishna, who hails from Nagamangala in Shidlaghatta taluk in Chikkaballapur district, is JD(S) legislature party leader H D Kumaraswamy’s relative.
Despite Bachegowda’s unwillingness, the party decided to field him. Late night on November 16, a decision was taken to field Radhakrishna, an industrialist.
The next day, BJP nominee Dr K Sudhakar had claimed in a public meeting that Radhakrishna, an outsider to Chikkaballapur, would be the official candidate from the JD(S).
Bachegowda had hit out at Sudhakar claiming that he would be the official candidate from the JD(S) and that he had already begun campaign in rural areas.
On Monday, Bachegowda and Radhakrishna were present at the procession before filing nomination papers. While leading the procession, Kumaraswamy had said that a decision would be taken regarding the party’s official candidate soon.
Soon after nomination paper was rejected, Bachegowda and Radhakrishna told reporters that a decision was taken to field Radhakrishna as Bachegowda was unwilling to contest.
Bachegowda said that leaders had forced him to enter the fray despite his unwillingness, while Radhakrishna said that he would face the bypoll under the guidance of Bachegowda and Kumaraswamy.
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