At CM's abode, lobby for tickets intensifies

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's official residence 'Cauvery' became the hub of political activity on Wednesday as party leaders and supporters queued up to meet him and lobby for tickets ahead of the Congress' Central Election Committee meeting.

According to sources, Siddaramaiah explored the option of fielding Transport Minister H M Revanna from the Channapatna Assembly constituency against the BJP's C P Yogeeshwar, who was earlier with the Congress. The high number of Kuruba voters in Channapatna is being factored in to decide on the candidature of Revanna, who is currently an MLC.

KPCC women's wing chief Laxmi Hebbalkar, who is an aspirant to the Belgaum Rural ticket, Small Scale Industries Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi and Yamakanamaradi legislator Satish Jarkiholi also met the chief minister. Issuance of tickets should not lead to disgruntlement in the Belagavi region, Siddaramaiah apparently told them.

He also held discussions with former mayors G Padmavathi and D Venkatesh Murthy, who want to contest from Rajajinagar and Padmanabhanagar, respectively.

Meanwhile, supporters of Shantinagar legislator N A Haris gathered outside 'Cauvery' to petition Siddaramaiah to ensure that Haris got the ticket to recontest. Their plea comes in the backdrop of his son Mohammed Nalapad Haris' controversial assault case.

There was also talk that Public Works Minister, and Siddaramaiah's confidant, H C Mahadevappa could drop his plan to contest from the C V Raman Nagar constituency. Apparently, the chief minister asked Mahadevappa to choose between fielding his son, Sunil Bose, or contest himself from T Narasipur, which he currently represents.

Law Minister T B Jayachandra, Water Resources Minister M B Patil and Mines & Geology Minister Vinay Kulkarni also met the chief minister.

Based on these meetings, Siddaramaiah will convey his opinion to the party high command on issuing tickets. He is scheduled to visit New Delhi on Thursday.