Facing heat of rebellion, Congress puts on hold tickets for 3 seats

Even as it fights dissidence and the threat of leaders contesting as rebels, the Congress on Tuesday put on hold issuing B-forms for three Assembly constituencies — Badami, Madikeri and Jagalur.

A B-form is proof that a particular candidate has been chosen by a party to contest an election.

Protests continued across the state as disgruntled party workers hit the streets against denial of tickets to their leaders. The Congress is facing protests in at least 30 constituencies, KPCC president G Parameshwara told DH.

In Badami, sitting legislator B B Chimmanakatti is throwing tantrums over the party giving a ticket to paediatrician Dr Devaraj Patil.

The Madikeri ticket has been put on hold following the revelation that senior advocate H S Chandramouli was once the counsel for fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi. The party’s own spokesperson Brijesh Kalappa has flagged Chandramouli’s candidature.

In fact, Parameshwara justified Chandramouli’s ticket. “What Chandramouli does professionally is different. Even P Chidambaram has argued so many cases. We don’t interfere with the profession. We had given Chandramouli a local body ticket earlier. We have to win and that’s all that matters.”

The Jagalur ticket was held back following pressure from Davanagere district in-charge minister S S Mallikarjun. Sitting legislator H P Rajesh’s supporters protested by burning tyres and picketed outside Mallikarjun’s house against favouring A L Pushpa.

Congress leaders have threatened to contest the polls as rebels in nearly a dozen constituencies. They include Ninganagouda Patil (Devara Hipparagi), Anand Chopra (Savadatti), Sukumara Kiranaga (Raibag), Shivamurthy Naik (Mayakonda), H B Manjappa (Honnali) and Prakash Angadi (Navalgund). Also, sitting MLAs Basavaraj Shivannanavar (Byadgi) and G H Srinivas (Tarikere) have threatened to contest as independents. Bellary ticket aspirant N Y Gopalakrishna is poised to join the BJP.