Karnataka Elections: Congress releases new list of 11 candidates; Siddaramaiah to contest from 2nd seat

The Congress on Sunday released its next list of 11 candidates for the May 12 Karnataka Assembly elections, announcing CM Siddaramaiah's candidature from Badami constituency. The CM will contest from the seat in place of Devraj Patil, as per the list. He is also contesting from Chamundeshwari seat.

The party also fielded KP Chandrakala from Madikeri seat, in place of HS Chandramouli, who is reportedly the lawyer of fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi.

Congress releases next list of 11 candidates for #KarnatakaElections2018; CM Siddaramaiah to contest from Badami (in place of Dr Devraj Patil) & KP Chandrakala (in place of HS Chandra Mouli,reportedly lawyer of Mehul Choksi). CM Siddaramaiah is also contesting from Chamundeshwari pic.twitter.com/43653PqO7w

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— ANI (@ANI) April 22, 2018

On April 16, the Congress had released its first list of 218 candidates for the assembly polls.

Safe seat for Siddaramaiah?

The Congress, in its list of candidates for 218 seats announced on April 15, had named Dr Devraj Patil as its nominee from Badami. But issuing of B-form (required to be filed by a political party mentioning name of its approved candidate) to Patil was put on hold.

Badami with a strong presence of Karubas, the community to which Siddaramaiah belongs, is seen as the second safe option for the Chief Minister as reports have suggested that the battle in Chamundeshwari will not be an easy one for him.

Siddaramaiah has won five times and tasted defeat twice at Chamundeshwari, from where he has been announced as the candidate. He has been representing Varuna constituency in Mysuru since 2008, which has now been allotted to his son Yatindra.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Siddaramaiah said he had conveyed to the high command, his desire to contest only from Chamundeshwari constituency. "I have told the high command that I will contest from Chamundeshwari and not from two constituencies.  However, the people of north Karnataka are pressurising the high command that I should contest from north Karnataka too," he said.

The Chief Minister had said he would go by the decision of the high command with respect to contesting from a second seat.

(With PTI inputs)

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