In every party, contestants outnumber ULB seats

A total of 33,195 nominations papers have been filed for 4,976 wards in 208 urban local bodies (ULBs) across the State which will go to polls on March 7.

According to information compiled by the State Election Commission on Sunday, 6,956 nomination papers have been filed by Congress candidates, 5,716 papers by BJP candidates and 5,046 by JD(S) candidates. The number of nomination papers filed by KJP candidates is 2,345 and 1,690 by BSR Congress candidates. Nominations filed by independents is 10,599.

It is clear from the statistics that in all the three major political parties, there is more than one aspirant from the same party in several wards. In Congress, as many 6,956 candidates have filed nominations for 4,976 wards claiming that they have “B” forms.

In several instances, the same candidate may have filed more than one nomination paper.

For instance, in Hiriyur Town Municipal Council there are 49 ‘Congress’ aspirants in fray for 27 seats in the ULB. In Davanagere City Corporation as many as 116 nomination papers have been filed by Congress candidates for 41 seats.

The nomination papers filed BJP candidates is 88. Dissidence has been a major headache, especially for the Congress, during the ULB polls. February 27 is the last date for withdrawal of nominations.