Bengaluru: Veteran Congress leader Mallikharjun Kharge will file his nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha election today at 11 am. He will be accompanied by former CM Siddaramaiah, KPCC president DK Shivakumar and other senior party leaders.
According to the Congress leaders, prior to the nomination filing, senior party leaders will hold a meeting at KPCC office on Queen’s road and discuss the party strategies in the election including party candidates for legislative council election.
Meanwhile, JDS supremo HD Deve Gowda also likely to contest in the election. He expected to file his nomination papers tomorrow. Even though his supporters are opposing his entry to Rajya Sabha, family members want him in the Rajya Sabha to save the family’s grip on the administration.
In Karnataka elections are being held to four Rajya Sabha seats. BJP has the numbers to win 2 seats while Congress and JDS can win one each seat if the Congress transfers its additional votes to JDS.
The last day for filing nomination is June 9 and the deadline for withdrawal is June 12.
With just two days left for filing of nomination papers for the biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha, the BJP has kept up the suspense over its nominee list though Prabhakar Kore, Ramesh Kati, and Prakash Shetty have been shortlisted for the two seats the BJP can win on its own.
Meanwhile, Legislative Assembly Secretary M.K. Vishalakshi has said that in view of COVID-19 SOP’s, only five leaders, including the contesting candidate, would be allowed in at the time of filing of nomination papers. She said media persons and cameramen would not be allowed inside. Social distancing and other norms should be followed during the filing of nomination papers and the conduct of elections, she said. However, media persons can speak to the contesting candidates on the corridors of the State Secretariat.
