Karnataka Legislative Council polls: Hectic politicking in Raichur

Ballari: After the announcement of the poll schedule for the legislative council election from the local bodies constituency, political activity has picked up in Raichur-Koppal constituency. The BJP has declared  Mr C.V. Chandrashekhar as its candidate denying the ticket to sitting legislator Mr Halappa Achar.

The ruling Congress party has half a dozen ticket aspirants including former Union minister Basavaraj Patil Anwari, G. Sridhar Kesaratti, Basavaraj Itagi, S.B. Nagarahalli, K.M. Sayeed, Basavanagouda Badarli and others. Raichur district Congress president Mr A Vasanth Kumar said the party high command may announce the candidate in the next couple of days.

The Janata Dal (Secular) seems to have adopted a ‘wait and watch’ policy as no prominent leader from the party has evinced interest to contest the polls.

Political circles are abuzz with reports that JD(S) may field former Congress MLC H.R. Srinath, son of veteran Congress leader H.G. Ramulu, since Mr Kumaraswamy, during his recent trip to Gangavati had visited the residence of Mr Ramulu and held talks with Srinanth.

Sources said that fielding Mr Srinath on a JD(S) ticket cannot be ruled out as Mr Kumaraswamy wants to nurture an alternative leadership to his bête-noire Mr Iqbal Ansari in the region. There are as many as 3777 voters in Raichur and 3220 voters in Koppal district.

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