Siddaramaiah reaches out to Muddahanumegowda

Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Siddaramaiah on Thursday reached out to the party’s Tumkur MP SP Muddahanumegowda and tried convincing him to withdraw his nomination for contesting the upcoming polls.

Muddahanumegowda is likely to withdraw his nomination following a request from the high command. Muddahanumegowda is hurt that he was the only party MP who was denied the ticket. He has filed his nomination as the Congress’ candidate as well as an independent. The Tumkur seat has been ceded to the JD(S), whose national president HD Deve Gowda is contesting from there.

The imbroglio, however, will have to be resolved on Friday, which is the last date for candidates to withdraw their nomination.

Meanwhile, Congress leader B K Hariprasad told reporters in Tumakuru that Muddahanumegowda would be expelled from the party if he failed to withdraw his nomination. "Any candidate who rebels against the party and contests the election will be expelled from the party, whoever it may be," stressed Hariprasad, who is contesting as the Congress’ candidate from Bangalore South.