Cong aspirants denied tickets file papers as rebels

The Congress on Monday went on a damage-control mode with a number of disappointed ticket aspirants either filing nomination papers as rebel candidates or threatening to quit the party.

The party sources said rebel candidates had filed nominations in more than 15 wards, including Pulakeshinagar, Manjunathnagar, Hoysalanagar and Shivajinagar wards, on Monday, the last date for filing the nomination papers. And the workers in over a dozen wards are upset with the party’s choice of candidates. Two former Congress corporators, T Mallesh from Subashnagar ward and Rame Gowda from Azadnagar ward, joined the JD(S). Another rebel aspirant from the Congress, Girish, a first time contestant, will be contesting from Dattatreya ward on a JD(S) ticket.

The sources said the party had directed its observers in charge of each of the assembly constituency to convince the disgruntled party workers to withdraw their nominations. August 13 is the last date for withdrawing nominations.

The party is trying to lure the rebels by promising to nominate them as directors of the various boards and corporations, the sources added.

A few rebel BJP aspirants defected to JD(S). BJP former corporator Shailaja Srinivasamurthy from Azad Nagar ward succeeded in getting a ticket from the JD(S).

In the BJP, the rebellion was milder compared with the Congress. Former mayor D Venkateshmurthy, who has been protesting with his supporters on being denied a ticket, is said to have been promised a post in a board or corporation of the Union government.