Pramod Madhwaraj to contest with JD(S) ticket

Former minister Pramod Madhwaraj’s candidature on JD(S) ticket from Udupi – Chikmagalur Lok Sabha constituency was confirmed on Thursday.

As Madhwaraj had expressed his desire to contest the Lok Sabha election this time, he had been waiting for a green signal from the Congress High Command. He will contest as he was assured of the B Form by the JD(S) supremo and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda on Thursday.

MLC and JD(S) senior leader S L Bhojegowda said that as per the seat sharing discussion for pre-poll alliance between coalition partners Congress and JDS, the Udupi – Chikmagalur Lok Sabha constituency had to be contested by a JD(S) candidate.

Congress leaders in Udupi and Chikmagalur districts, who had earlier opposed the idea, had come to understand the inevitability.

Bhojegowda said that the JD(S) did not have an able candidate to contest the election from the constituency. It was, therefore, decided to field Pramod Madhwaraj.

Madhwaraj, however, did not clarify if he would remain in the Congress or would resign as primary member of the party in order to contest on JD(S) ticket. He said that the present political situation had made him contest on JD(S) ticket.