The stage is all set for the by-elections in the State. Just three days are left for the candidates to file their nomination papers.
The BJP has finalised its candidates for four of the five constituencies going to the polls. The Congress and JD(S) are yet to come out with their lists.
BJP candidates are already in campaign mode. Valmiki Nayak, BJP candidate for Chittapur, has begun his campaign. Nayak had contested against Mallikarjun Kharge in the 2008 Assembly elections, and lost by 17,442 votes. However, he believes he has better chances this time. “Our party is in power in the State. People know that development works reach their constituency if they support the party in power,” he said.
Former MLA G N Nanjundaswamy is contesting from Kollegal. He has decided to begin his campaign after filing his nomination papers on Monday. V Somanna and Yogeshwara, who joined the BJP during the last LS elections, are candidates from the Govindarajanagar and Channapatna constituencies, respectively. Both of them launched their campaigns much before the party officially declared their candidature.
Somanna begins campaigning at 6 am everyday, and continues to tour the constituency till 11 am. “People of the constituency have known me for the last 27 years. I’m hopeful they won’t let me down,” he said. The BJP is yet to finalise its candidate for Ramanagara.
It is said that JD(S) has decided to field candidates in all five constituencies. There were reports that the party would field candidates only in three, and concentrate on winning those. The party has reportedly decided to field candidates in all five constituencies, so that the BJP does not get an opportunity to claim that there is an internal understanding between the JD(S) and Congress.
Congress leader C M Lingappa has filed nomination papers for Ramanagara. However, the party has not yet finalised his candidature. Lingappa expects to be offered a B-form.
Both Congress and JD(S) are expected to announce their lists on Monday.
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