Congress may move against Jadhav legally

The Congress is said to be exploring legal options against rebel legislator Umesh Jadhav, if he enters the poll fray as the BJP’s candidate in Gulbarga without his resignation being accepted.

Speaking to reporters after releasing the state Congress’ election campaign booklet, Siddaramaiah said his petition to Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar seeking Jadhav’s disqualification was still pending. “The Speaker will have to take a final call. Based on how things go, we will consult legal experts and take a decision,” Siddaramaiah said.

Siddaramaiah also held talks with party legislators from Belagavi to discuss probable candidates for the Belgaum and Chikkodi seats. Party leaders also huddled to discuss candidates for Bidar, where KPCC working president Eshwar Khandre is the frontrunner for the party ticket.

Water Resources Minister D K Shivakumar also huddled with party leaders to take stock of the anti-incumbency and internal revolt that party MPs KH Muniyappa (Kolar) and M Veerappa Moily (Chikkaballapur) are said to be facing.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi is slated to hold a rally in Kalaburagi on March 18. This will be Rahul’s second visit to Karnataka this poll season after his rally on March 8. It was in Kalaburagi that Prime Minister Narendra Modi kickstarted the BJP’s state poll campaign by addressing a massive crowd on March 6.