Karnataka   

907 candidates in the fray in the first phase of Karnataka elections

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 Karnataka for which polling will be held on May 10.

It is virtually 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Indications are that nearly 300 candidates have withdrawn their nominations much to the comfort of the candidates fielded by major political parties such as the Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Janata Dal (Secular), the Bahujan Samaj Party and the 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before the returning officers to withdraw their nominations at the last minute, the exact number of candidates who have withdrawn from the contest is expected to be available only on Sunday.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of nominations, reports received at the office of the Chief Electoral Officer indicated that around 300 candidates had withdrawn from the contest.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 in the fray from 21 constituencies in the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike limits and 67 candidates are contesting from seven constituencies in Bangalore Urban district.

As many as 29 candidates are contesting from Mulbagal in Kolar district.

Thirty-nine candidates are in the fray in Bangalore Rural district comprising four constituencies — Hoskote (12), Devanahalli (9), Doddaballapur (10) and Nelamangala (8). As many as 123 candidates are in the fray 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 A total of 66 candidates withdrew their nominations on Saturday while three had withdrawn their papers on Friday.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.

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