Sons and bros make it to Congress list but veteran Patil misses out

By shyam Sundar Vattam | NT

Bengaluru: Sons of former legislators and a brother of sitting MLAs have bagged the Congress ticket to contest in the election to 25 seats in the State Legislative Council from the local bodies constituencies slated to be held on December 10.

The Congress has released a list of only 17 candidates. The names of other candidates is expected later Monday, as Tuesday is the last date for filing the nomination papers.

Interestingly, Leader of Opposition in the State Legislative Council, S.R.Patil has been denied a ticket from Vijayapura-Bagalkot seat. This has surprised everyone since he has been a loyal soldier of the Congress.

The defeated BJP MP candidate from Hassan, A.Manju’s son, Dr Mantar Gowda will contest from Kodagu; former Gubbi MLA, K.N.Rajanna’s son, R.Rajendra will contest from Tumkur and Belgavi Rural MLA Laxmi Hebabalkar’s brother, Channaraja Basavaraja Hattiholi, will contest from Belagavi. KPCC Working President, Saleem Ahked will contest from HubballiDharwad-Gadag and Haveri. Despite strong resentment from local Congress leaders, Dinesh Gooligowda, the former aide of Co-Operation and Mysuru District-In-Charge Minister S.T. Somashekar, has been given the ticket from Mandya. Similarly, K.C.Kondaiah, a man close to veteran Congress leader, M.Mallikarjun Kharge, will seek re-election from Ballari.