Despite the BJP candidate in Ramanagaram, L. Chandrashekar, withdrawing in favour of JD(S) candidate Anitha Kumaraswamy, he will continue to remain a candidate in the electoral process.
“We have not heard anything formally, nor has anyone complained about it. His name will remain in the EVM and VVPAT machines, and he will continue to be a contestant,” Chief Electoral Officer Sanjiv Kumar told The Hindu. “The law is clear that after the last date for withdrawal of nomination, contestants will remain in the fray,” he said.
Sources in the Election Commission said this was not a unique case, as in the past many — most often Independents — have informally withdrawn from the contest but remained in the poll fray officially after the last date for withdrawal of nominations. “These kind of informal announcements often cause confusion among voters, but the candidates remain,” said a source.
In some cases, the official pointed out, the election expenditure of the person withdrawing from the contest is added to the expenditure of the candidate in whose favour he or she quit.