Ramya to contest Youth Cong polls

Ramya, who had maintained that she would not contest the elections, changed her stance a week before the elections.

However, she did not come in person to file the nominations, her associate completed the formalities for the booth-level nominations that concluded on Monday. 

Scrutiny of nominations and symbol allocation will be on September 13 and 14.                                                                                                                                                                                                           
Ramya’s candidature has evoked mixed reaction among her party colleagues. The actor, backed by Congress leader D K Shivakumar, will contest against Priyank Kharge, Rizwan Arshad, Srinivas and Basavaraj, for the post of president.

“Ramya stands a good chance to win the elections as she has a good backing in the party, including that of Rahul Gandhi. The party wants to see a change and hence, she has been fielded,” Shivakumar said.

While Priyank is contesting the elections from Chittapur in Gulbarga, Rizwan has filed his nominations from Mysore City. Srinivas, contesting from Rajajinagar constituency, was banking on Shivakumar’s blessings to fight the elections. But, his ’political guru’ has chosen to promote Ramya.

“I am disheartened that I will lose his support. I will now have to depend entirely on the party workers to emerge victorious,” said Srinivas.

Basavaraj, who is said to have the backing of the “Lingayat mutts”, has filed his nominations from Hassan City.

Sources said the true contest would be between Priyank and Rizwan. While Priyank has the backing of his father, Union Labour Minister Mallikarjun Kharge, Rizwan is said to have no ‘godfathers’. 

The State-level elections to the president’s post will be held on October 8 and 9.