Confusion reigns in Janata Dal (Secular)

The Janata Dal (Secular), which was the first off the block to announce its first list of candidates in February, got into a mess on the final day of nominations, with confusion over candidates receiving ‘B’ form from the party. While the party did not announce the list of candidates for 22 constituencies at all, it also issued ‘C’ forms to replace candidates at the last moment.

In some places, sources said two candidates had filed nomination papers with the party-issued ‘B’ forms. The party, according to insiders, has issued ‘C’ forms in at least 10 constituencies. While the party issues ‘B’ forms to its candidates, it is entitled to issue the ‘C’ form to replace its candidate who has been already given the ‘B’ form.

MLA for K.R. Pet Narayan Gowda, who had earlier been denied ticket when the party opted for B.L. Devaraj, received the ‘C’ form just hours before the deadline for filing nominations.

The party also issued ‘C’ forms to its “new candidate” for Devanhalli, where it replaced Pilla Munishamappa with Nisarga Narayanswamy. Confusion prevailed over the candidate for Sidlaghatta, where it had earlier denied re-nomination for Rajanna to favour Ravi Kumar.

‘Clear picture soon’

“In some constituencies, two candidates from the party have filed nominations with ‘B’ forms. A clear picture would emerge when the withdrawal of the nominations happens over the next couple of days,” a source in the party said, and added that a majority of constituencies where confusion remained were in Hyderabad Karnataka and Bombay Karnataka regions.