Heavyweights file papers for Karnataka polls amid fanfare

BENGALURU: Chief minister Basavaraj Bommai, opposition leader Siddaramaiah, former CM Jagadish Shettar, and BY Vijayendra, son of former CM BS Yediyurappa, were among political heavyweights who filed their nomination papers amid great fanfare on Wednesday.
Accompanied by BJP national president JP Nadda and film star Sudeep, Bommai filed his second set of nomination papers. He is seeking reelection from Shiggaon, from where he has been elected MLA thrice since 2008.
Earlier, Bommai visited temples and held a huge roadshow with Nadda and Sudeep in the constituency. Hundreds of people gathered as they travelled through the streets in a specially designed vehicle. Prior to that, they garlanded the statue of Kittur Rani Chennamma, who in 1824 led an armed resistance against the British.
Bommai, 63, son of former Karnataka CM and Janata Parivar veteran SR Bommai, had already filed one set of nominations during ‘auspicious muhurat’ on April 15. He is up against Congress’ Yasir Ahmed Khan Pathan. In 2018, Bommai won by 9,260 votes.
My last: Siddaramaiah
Siddaramaiah filed his nomination from Varuna, Mysuru and reiterated that itwould be his last shot in electoral politics. The 75-year-old virtually laid out a ‘succession plan’, indicating that his son, Yathindra, and grandson, Dhawan Rakesh, will be his political heirs. Yathidra currently represents Varuna in the assembly, while Dhawan is the son of his late elder son Rakesh.
When Siddaramaiah referred to Dhawan, the crowd cheered. “He should be 25 years to enter politics… he still has eight years to go, andhis education is not complete,” Siddaramaiah said. “Your love and affection for him were what you had for Rakesh, who was very popular here.”
An eight-time MLA, Siddaramaiah previously won twice from Varuna, going on to become leader of the opposition after winning from the seat in 2008, and chief minister in 2013.
He offered prayers to family deity, Siddarameshwara, at the temple in his village of Siddaramanahundi, and visited Sri Rama temple there. He then held a massive roadshow before filing his papers.
At a public meeting, he took a dig at ‘friend’ V Somanna, BJP’s candidate in Varuna, calling him a “resident of Bengaluru”. “BJP and JD(S) have an internal pact. That’s why JD(S) has fielded Bharathi Shankar, former MLA, from T Narsipur. The aim is to divide Dalit votes, but I’m confident people of Varuna will see through the conspiracy and help me win by a big margin. ”Shettar, who switched to Congress from BJP earlier this week, filed his nomination from the Hubballi-Dharwad Central seat. Shettar is set to face BJP’s Mahesh Tenginakai.
Vijayendra filed his nomination from Shikaripura constituency in Shivamogga district. The state BJP vicepresident visited a temple and held a roadshow. Yediyurappa, who represents the seat in the outgoing assembly, and Vijayendra’s MPbrother, BY Raghavendra were among those present.
Yediyurappa exuded confidence that Vijayendra, who is making his debut in assembly electoral polls, will win from Shikaripura by a margin of 50,000 votes.
BJP candidate Bhaskar Rao, former IPS officer and former Bengaluru city police commissioner, filed his nomination from Chamarajpet seat in the capital. He faces former minister Zameer Ahmed Khan of Congress.