JOIN USNo Cong candidates in 5 seats
It is not the Congress alone which is suffering for dearth of suitable candidates. Even the BJP and the JD(S) too are facing a similar problem.
Though all the three major parties were willing to give B-forms (official party nomination) in many constituencies, there were not many takers. Some of the candidates who collected the B-form, didn’t bother to contest.
Many filed nominations, but withdrew their nominations, leaving the parties unrepresented. The parties are on the verge of losing their presence in these constituencies.
The constituencies where there are no Congress candidates are - Arahalli, Begli Hosahalli, Madderi, Mudduvathi and Vakkaleri.
Interestingly, Madderi Congress candidate M H Sonnegowda has withdrawn his nomination. It is said that Sonnegowda who came with MLA Varthur Prakash withdrew his nomination on Saturday.
“There has been no consensus on the list of candidates contesting from these constituencies and a decision on extending support to a candidate is yet to be taken,” said M L Anil Kumar, distirct unit president of the Congress Committee.
BJP
There are no BJP candidates in three taluk panchayat constituencies. The BJP has not fielded any candidates from Choudanehalli, Suguturu and Shettihalli.
“The selected candidates who were with the party till the virtual end, turned hostile and quit the party at the eleventh-hour,” said BJP district unit president N Lakshmaiah.
MLA Varthur Prakash has persuaded party candidate from Choudenahalli, Prabhakar to withdraw his nomination.
Prakash has also fielded an independent candidate Venkata Reddy in place of Prabhakar. In Shettyhalli, the selected candidate has refused to contest the elections.
JD(S)
There is no JD(S) candidate from Kyalnur taluk panchayat constituency. “The Gram Panchayat member Baba was given B-form by the party. However, Baba has withdrawn his nomination. The party has decided to support Saida Khanum, an independent candidate who is contesting the election,” said party in-charge Muninarayanappa.