After temple-hopping, CM files nomination

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of the Congress and his JD(S) opponent and sitting MLA G T Devegowda filed their nomination papers from Chamundeshwari Assembly segment on Monday.

Supporters of the two leaders took out processions from Kote Sri Anjaneya Swami temple near Mysuru Palace, to Mini Vidhana Soudha, where Siddaramaiah and Devegowda filed their papers. While Devegowda joined his supporters in the procession, Siddaramaiah came directly to the Mini Vidhana Soudha.

Devegowda along with his wife Lalitha offered puja at the temple earlier before filing the papers.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also offered puja at the temple. Earlier, Siddaramaiah and his son Dr Yathindra visited their native village Siddaramanahundi and offered puja at Siddarameshwara temple. Siddaramaiah also visited Chamundeshwari Temple atop the Chamundi Hill.

Cong, JD(S) workers clash

A verbal altercation broke out between JD(S) and Congress workers in front of Kote Sri Anjaneya Swami temple. Workers of the two parties gathered on the premises as the candidates were scheduled to visit the temple before filing the papers. Though the city police had provided different time slots for the two political parties, some Congress workers arrived before the allotted time.

The workers of the rival parties passed comments at each other, resulting in verbal altercation. However, the police resorted to mild lathi charge to control the crowds.

Police Commissioner Dr A Subramanyeswara Rao, who was monitoring the security arrangements, said the police had identified separate procession routes and different timing for the two candidates. But, as party supporters arrived near the temple a little earlier, there was a minor altercation between the two groups, Rao said.

Dr Yathindra files paper

Dr Yathindra, son of Siddaramaiah, filed his papers for Varuna Assembly segment, at Nanjangud taluk office. Chamarajanagar MP R Dhruvanarayan and Sunil Bose, son of Public Works minister H C Mahadevappa accompanied Dr Yathindra during the filing of nomination.