Karnataka MLC poll: Independent hurdle for Savadi

BENGALURU: Deputy chief minister Laxman Savadi will have competition in the bypoll to the legislative council slated for February 17 as two independents have entered the fray. One of the independents is backed by Congress and JD(S).
Anil Kumar, a Tumakuru-based businessman, filed his nomination on Thursday, the last day to file nominations. Rules state a person’s candidature must be proposed by at least 10 members of the assembly. Kumar’s candidature was backed by 10 JD(S) MLAs. “Our party decided to back Anil Kumar in anticipation that the Congress will also back him. Preliminary talks have been held between the two parties,” said JD(S) state president HK Kumaraswamy.
K Padmarajan, the other independent candidate, does not have any MLA proposers and his nomination is likely to be rejected.
Intriguingly, the Congress and JD(S), which parted ways after the fall of the HD Kumaraswamy-led coalition government, have decided join hands to defeat a BJP candidate. Savadi must win to retain power since he is not an elected member. Rules mandate that a minister who is not a member of either house, must be elected within six months after taking over. Savidi’s deadline is February 20.