<p>Hectic parleys are on for tickets in the Congress ahead of the June 3 Legislative Council elections with leaders belonging to various social groups mounting pressure on the party’s top brass. </p>.<p>Of the seven MLC seats that will face polls on June 3, the Congress can win two. These MLCs will be elected by MLAs. </p>.<p>According to sources, leaders belonging to the Lingayat, Vokkaliga, SC and Christians have laid claim to the tickets. </p>.<p>Apparently, Karnataka Congress president D K Shivakumar and Bangalore Rural MP DK Suresh (his brother) want one ticket for fellow Vokkaliga S P Muddahanumegowda, the former Tumkur MP who had to vacate his seat for JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda in the 2019 polls.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/state/top-karnataka-stories/20-names-shortlisted-for-mlc-polls-savadi-1109536.html">20 names shortlisted for MLC polls: Savadi </a></strong></p>.<p>Former Legislative Council chairperson B L Shankar, also a Vokkaliga, is in the ticket fray as well, sources said. </p>.<p>Under the Lingayat quota, the party may pick senior leader S R Patil or Prabhakar Goud from Ballari. The DK brothers are said to be backing Patil, who was earlier the party’s floor leader in the Upper House. </p>.<p>It is said that the party is getting pressure from Christian leaders for a place. Nivedit Alva and Ivan D’Souza are said to be ticket aspirants.</p>.<p>Although Mansoor Ali Khan, the son of former Rajya Sabha chairman Rahman Khan, is seeking the ticket, the party is unlikely to field a Muslim.</p>.<p>“The view in the party is that Nasser Ahmed (Muslim) and B K Harirprasad (OBC) were given tickets last time. So, the party has to consider a Christian candidate this time,” a source said. </p>.<p>Among women, the incumbent Veena Achaiah is in the race while former radio jockey Lavanya Ballal is a ticket aspirant under the minority Jain quota. Another woman in the fray is Mahila Congress chief Pushpa Amarnath, who is also SC. </p>.<p>When it comes to SC picks, the party is said to be considering someone belonging to the Dalit (Left) such as Mundargi Nagaraj.</p>.<p>Going by sources, the Kharge family appears to be backing Tippanna Kamaknur, a former nominated MLC who hails from Kalaburagi and belongs to the Koli community. </p>.<p>Sources said the party is unlikely to give tickets to incumbents Allum Veerabhadrappa and R B Timmapur. </p>
<p>Hectic parleys are on for tickets in the Congress ahead of the June 3 Legislative Council elections with leaders belonging to various social groups mounting pressure on the party’s top brass. </p>.<p>Of the seven MLC seats that will face polls on June 3, the Congress can win two. These MLCs will be elected by MLAs. </p>.<p>According to sources, leaders belonging to the Lingayat, Vokkaliga, SC and Christians have laid claim to the tickets. </p>.<p>Apparently, Karnataka Congress president D K Shivakumar and Bangalore Rural MP DK Suresh (his brother) want one ticket for fellow Vokkaliga S P Muddahanumegowda, the former Tumkur MP who had to vacate his seat for JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda in the 2019 polls.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/state/top-karnataka-stories/20-names-shortlisted-for-mlc-polls-savadi-1109536.html">20 names shortlisted for MLC polls: Savadi </a></strong></p>.<p>Former Legislative Council chairperson B L Shankar, also a Vokkaliga, is in the ticket fray as well, sources said. </p>.<p>Under the Lingayat quota, the party may pick senior leader S R Patil or Prabhakar Goud from Ballari. The DK brothers are said to be backing Patil, who was earlier the party’s floor leader in the Upper House. </p>.<p>It is said that the party is getting pressure from Christian leaders for a place. Nivedit Alva and Ivan D’Souza are said to be ticket aspirants.</p>.<p>Although Mansoor Ali Khan, the son of former Rajya Sabha chairman Rahman Khan, is seeking the ticket, the party is unlikely to field a Muslim.</p>.<p>“The view in the party is that Nasser Ahmed (Muslim) and B K Harirprasad (OBC) were given tickets last time. So, the party has to consider a Christian candidate this time,” a source said. </p>.<p>Among women, the incumbent Veena Achaiah is in the race while former radio jockey Lavanya Ballal is a ticket aspirant under the minority Jain quota. Another woman in the fray is Mahila Congress chief Pushpa Amarnath, who is also SC. </p>.<p>When it comes to SC picks, the party is said to be considering someone belonging to the Dalit (Left) such as Mundargi Nagaraj.</p>.<p>Going by sources, the Kharge family appears to be backing Tippanna Kamaknur, a former nominated MLC who hails from Kalaburagi and belongs to the Koli community. </p>.<p>Sources said the party is unlikely to give tickets to incumbents Allum Veerabhadrappa and R B Timmapur. </p>
