All three major parties face rebel trouble; 389 candidates in fray from Bengaluru

BENGALURU: After the announcement of candidates for the upcoming Assembly election, all three major political parties in the state have witnessed dissidence and rebellion. Ever since, all parties had been engaged in quelling the dissent and seem to have mostly suceeded in their attempts.

After the last day for withdrawal of nomination on April 24, all three parties have managed to douse the rebellion in almost all the constituencies. However, in Bengaluru, the BJP, Congress and the JD(S) are still facing dissidence in one segment each in Bengaluru — Gandhi Nagar, Pulakeshi Nagar and Chickpet.

Malur Ess Enn Krishnaiah Shetty has remained in the fray as a BJP rebel from Gandhi Nagar.

Malur Ess Enn Krishnaiah Shetty is in the fray as a rebel BJP candidate from Gandhi Nagar against the party’s official candidate Sapthagiri Gowda. Shetty said no one from the party contacted him to withdraw his nomination and alleged that Bangalore Central MP P C Mohan was responsible for the ticket being denied to him. He also said that he will seek votes on the basis of the social work he has done and the various schemes launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modia and exuded confidence of winning.

As far as the Congress is concerned, Akhanda Srinivas Murthy, who was representing Pulakeshi Nagar, is now constesing on a BSP ticket against the Congress’ A C Srinivas. He had earlier planned to constest as an Independent candidate after he was denied the ticket. In Chickpet, however, the party has managed to convince Gangambike Mallikarjun to withdraw her nomination while KGF Babu is insistent on proving his popularity by contesting as an Independent candidate.

Gangambike Mallikarjun and KGF Babu had filed their nomination papers from Chickpet constituency.

Fortunately for the JD(S), it has managed to convice its rebel candidate Choudhury to withdraw from the fray in Chickpet, whereas it faces trouble in some other segments.

In Bengaluru, a total of 704 candidates had filed their nomination papers by April 20 and many were rejected. On Monday, 56 candidates withdrew their nominations, leaving 389 candidates from national and regional parties and independent candidates in the fray.