Mangaluru: The counting of votes has begun for filing nominations. It has intensified in political parties.
The Congress, which always released the list of candidates at the last minute, broke this tradition by releasing the names of candidates for five constituencies in Dakshina Kannada District and three in Udupi District much earlier. However, the BJP, which has been announcing the list of candidates with a lot of fear, has succumbed to the delay this time. The notification will be issued from April 13 and the filing of nominations will begin on April 21 and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is April 24. In the BJP, there was a feeling that all the sitting MLAs in Dakshina Kannada District were sure of a ticket this time. But in the meantime, the party has created suspense by collecting opinion on the selection of candidates in the Constituency and collecting three names each.
While one source said that in the two constituencies, the sitting MLAs will be dropped this time and newcomers will get a chance, another source said there will be no change this time. All the seven sitting MLAs will get tickets. However, all the suspense are likely to come to an end within a week with the announcement of the candidates.
The Congress has already announced its candidates for Bantwal, Mangaluru, Belthangady, Sullia and Moodabidri. However, there are challenges in the selection of candidates for Puttur, Mangaluru South and Mangalore North. Among the 15 aspirants in Puttur, the final contest is between Ashok Kumar Rai, Shakuntala Shetty and Hemnath Shetty. Among them, Hemnath Shetty has been summoned by the party’s High Command to New Delhi, triggering a debate in the Congress camp in the Constituency.
