MLC elections; Kavatagimath, Jarkiholi, Hattiholi file nominations

Belagavi: Heavyweight candidates including Mahantesh Kavatagimath of the BJP and Channaraj Hattiholi, Congress candidate and brother of MLA Laxmi Hebbalkar filed their nomination papers for the legislative council elections on the last day here on Tuesday accompanied by hundreds of their supporters. The elections will be held at 10th December.

Besides Kavatagimath and Hattiholi, Lakhan Jarkiholi filed his nomination papers as an independent candidate. Due to the rallies of candidates, most market streets faced traffic bottleneck with the police department struggling to manage traffic.

Speaking to media persons, all three candidates claimed they would emerge victorious. MLC Vivekrao Patil, who missed the Congress ticket, said he will work for the BJP and support Independent candidate Lakhan Jarkiholi too. However, BJP candidate Kavatagimath replied that he did not know when he (Vivekrao Patil) joined the BJP and who were the leaders he met.

Lakhan Jarkiholi said he was not a rebel candidate of the BJP but an independent. “I never asked for a BJP ticket. There is some confusion among people but my entry into the fray will do good to the BJP” he claimed.

Congress candidate Channaraj Hattiholi said the party is facing the elections under the leadership of KPCC working president Satish Jarkiholi and with the blessings of all leaders in the district. “We are getting a good response everywhere and expect to win b y a huge margin as there are around 4,100- gram panchayat members elected on the Congress ticket”, he said.