It's DK Shivakumar vs R Ashoka in Kanakapura assembly seat; Karnataka Congress relieved as papers are in order

BENGALURU: Putting all speculation to rest, the returning officer on Friday accepted the nomination of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president DK Shivakumar for the Kanakapura assembly seat, paving the way for a high-profile battle between him and revenue minister R Ashoka of the BJP in the May 10 assembly polls.
The returning officer ruled out any discrepancy in the nomination papers filed by Shivakumar during scrutiny. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is April 24.
This came as a huge relief for the Congress party and Shivakumar, who is vying for the post of chief minister, as there was widespread speculation that the KPCC chief's nomination could be rejected on technical or legal grounds, with Congress accusing the BJP of conspiring to push him out of the electoral fray.
"All my papers are transparent, whatever I have filled out for the Election Commision, Income Tax, ED, Lokayukta and CBI. [But] they want to create problems for me and they are harassing me. I don't want to talk about legal or court matters. I am ready to face whatever they give me," he said.
Following suspicion that the authorities could reject his nomination, Shivakumar’s brother DK Suresh, the lone Congress Lok Sabha member from Karnataka, had also filed his papers as a back-up measure. He is now expected to withdraw from the race.
On the high court dismissing his plea in a disproportionate assets case, Shivakumar said he will fight till his last breath. “I will approach the higher courts as I believe in them. I believe in the people’s court; they (BJP) are trying to use various agencies . . . [but] I’m very cautious on every move; I am also a political animal,” Shivakumar said.
Not just Shivakumar’s, but nominations of other prominent politicians who had asked one of their family members to file their papers as a substitute over fear of rejection, were also accepted. This includes KJ George and Satish Jarkiholi (Congress) and K Gopalaiah (BJP).
There were reports that the nomination of Chamarajpet Congress candidate BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan would be rejected as he hadfailed to fill up some of the columns on the nomination sheet, but following a clarification from him, it was accepted.
Scrutiny completed for 219 seats: CEO
Barring five seats, scrutiny of nominations has been completed for the remaining 219 assembly segments. According to a statement by the Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka, 3,044 candidates are in the fray for 219 assembly seats. Scrutiny of nomination papers is yet to be completed in Savadatti-Yellamma, Aurad, Haveri (SC), Raichur and Shivajinagar constituencies.