The Hindu : Front Page : 907 candidates in fray in the first phase of Assembly elections

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907 candidates in fray in the first phase of Assembly elections

Special Correspondent

Nearly 300 candidates have withdrawn from the contest

BANGALORE: Given the competition to enter the political arena, a record number of 907 candidates are in the fray from 89 Assembly constituencies in 11 districts of the State for which polling will be held on May 10.

It is a big political battle in each of the constituencies in the Old Mysore region which accounts for a big chunk of the 224 Assembly constituencies in the State.

Indications are that nearly 300 candidates have withdrawn their nominations much to the comfort of the candidates fielded by major political parties such as the Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party, Janata Dal (Secular), Bahujan Samaj Party and Janata Dal (United).

With the prospective candidates queuing before the returning officers to withdraw their nominations at the last minute, the exact number of candidates who have withdrawn from the contest is expected to be available only on Sunday.

On Saturday, which was the last day for withdrawal of nominations, reports received at the office of the Chief Electoral Officer indicated that around 300 candidates had withdrawn from the contest.

As many as 1,72,88,358 voters (43 per cent of the total voters in the State) will exercise their franchise on May 10.

The former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy; the former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah; the former Ministers H.D. Revanna, R. Ashok, Katta Subramanya Naidu, H.C. Mahadevappa, Roshan Baig, H.S. Mahadeva Prasad, N. Cheluvarayaswamy and Ramalinga Reddy; and Kannada Chalavali Vatal Paksha leader Vatal Nagaraj are in the fray.

As many as 264 candidates are contesting from 21 constituencies in the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike limits and 67 candidates are in the fray in the seven constituencies in Bangalore Urban district.

As many as 29 candidates, a highest in the first phase, are contesting from Mulbagal in Kolar district.

Thirty-nine candidates are in the fray in Bangalore Rural district comprised of four constituencies — Hoskote (12), Devanahalli (9), Doddaballapur (10) and Nelamangala (8).

As many as 123 candidates are in the contest from 11 Assembly constituencies in Mysore district. A total of 66 candidates withdrew their nominations on Saturday while three had withdrawn their papers on Friday.

In Chamarajanagar, 40 candidates are in the fray from four Assembly constituencies after withdrawal of papers by 15 candidates.

A total of 65 candidates are contesting in Mandya district.

Twenty-four candidates have withdrawn their papers.

Sixty-eight candidates withdrew their nominations from the 11 Assembly constituencies in Tumkur district on Saturday, leaving 101 candidates in the field. S.P. Muddahanume Gowda, former president of Tumkur District Congress Committee, withdrew his nomination papers from both Kunigal and Tumkur Rural segments.

As many as 143 candidates are in the fray in Kolar and Chickballapur districts. There are 91 candidates in Kolar district and 52 in Chickballapur district. Besides official candidates of various political parties, several rebels and independent candidates will test their electoral future from six constituencies in Kolar district and five segments in Chickballapur district.

As many as 16 candidates are in the fray from two Assembly constituencies in Kodagu — 11 from Madikeri and five from Virajpet. Independent candidates B.M. Vishwanath from Madikeri, and B.G. Raghunath Naik and Mohammad Ali from Virajpet constituency withdrew their nomination papers on Saturday.

Forty-nine candidates are in the contest from the seven Assembly constituencies in Hassan district.

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