Bagalakote: With the Congress High Command announcing ticket to only two of the seven constituencies of the District, the suspense continues as to who will clinch the ticket from the party for the remaining Assembly segments.
It may be noted that the party has announced the candidature of Anand Nyamagouda, the incumbent MLA of Jamakhandi and Vijayananda Kashappanavar from Hungund, the Former MLA.
The party insiders say that the ticket for both the aspirants was certain as they do not have any stronger competitor. But the challenge before the party is to finalise the candidates for remaining five Assembly segments, that is, Bagalkot City, Mudhol Reserved Constituency, Badami, Bilagi and Terdal.
For Bagalzkot City, besides Former MLA H. Y. Meti, other aspirants who have sought ticket are Former Minister, Ajaykumar Sarnayak and Devaraj Patil.
For Badami which is represented by Leader of the Opposition, Siddaramaiah, the party is expected to face a challenge in selecting the candidate as Siddaramaiah has decided to contest from Varuna, his traditional constituency.
After this announcement, the lobbying for a ticket for Badami has intensified as many aspirants have sought ticket. They include Former MLA B. B. Chimmanakatti and his son Bhimsen Chimmanakatti are front runners. Besides them, Mahesh Hosagoudar, M. G. Kittali and Anil Daddi are Congress aspirants
For Bilagi, the competition for ticket is tougher in the Congress as many tall leaders have thrown their hat in the ring. They include, Former MLC S. R. Patil, Former MLA J. T. Patil and party leaders, Basavaprabhu Sarnadagouda, Basavaraj Khot and M. N. Patil.
For Mudhol which is a Reserved Constituency, Former Minister R. B. Timmapur and Satish Bandiwoddar are the aspirants. The party will finalise a strong candidate to take on sitting BJP MLA and Water Resources Minister, Govind Karjol who is expected to get ticket.
The party is facing a tough challenge in Terdal Assembly Constituency as around ten aspirants have sought ticket including the Former Minister Umashree. The actor turned politicians are apparently facing challenges from the party’s local aspirants as they want the high command to consider local candidates this time. It may be noted that despite having no connection to Terdal, Umashree was given a ticket only because Terdal has a larger concentration of weaver community and Umashree belongs to the same community.
Here other leaders who have sought ticket from Terdal are A. R. Belagali, Padmajit Nadagouda, M. S. Daddenavar and others.
