Bengaluru, Jun 8: Veteran Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday filed his nomination as the party's candidate for the June 19 Rajya Sabha polls from Karnataka.
The former union minister filed his nomination in the presence of KPCC President D K Shivakumar, Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah and other senior party leaders at the office of Legislative Assembly Secretary M K Vishalakshi, who is the returning officer for the polls.
Ahead of filing of nomination, the Congress Legislature Party meeting was held under the leadership of Siddaramaiah, after which Shivakumar issued "B-form" to Kharge.
The Congress high command on June 5 had announced Kharge as the party's candidate for the Rajya Sabha polls.
The election is scheduled on June 19 to fill four Rajya Sabha seats from Karnataka represented by Rajeev Gowda and BK Hariprasad of the Congress, Prabhakar Kore of the BJP and D Kupendra Reddy of the JD(S) that will fall vacant on June 25, with their retirement.
June 9 is the last date for filing nominations.
Congress with 68 MLAs in the assembly can win one of the four seats easily on its own, so Kharge's victory is said to be certain.
This will be the first stint in Rajya Sabha for Kharge, who has always got elected directly by the people in his political career spanning over four decades.
The leader, earlier popularly known as "solillada Saradara", (a leader without defeat), faced his first electoral loss in his political life against BJP's Umesh Jadhav in Gulbarga by a margin of 95,452 votes during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
A nine-time MLA and two-term Lok Sabha member, he had served as Congress floor leader in the previous Lok Sabha, and also as Union Railway and Labour Minister during the UPA government.
Kharge, who is 77-years-old, has also served as minister during several Congress governments in the state, and as KPCC President and Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly in the past.
His son, Priyank Kharge, is currently MLA representing Chittapur constituency and had served as minister during the previous Congress and coalition governments.
JD(S) patriarch and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda is the JD(S) candidate.
The regional party that has 34 seats in the assembly is not in a position to win a seat in Rajya Sabha on its own, and will need the support from the Congress with its surplus votes.
A minimum of 44 votes are required for candidates to win.
BJP with 117 members in the assembly (including Speaker), can ensure easy victory in two seats.
The BJP's central leadership on Monday sprang a surprise by fielding Eranna Kadadi and Ashok Gasti as its candidates for the Rajya Sabha election ignoring the recommendations of the state BJP unit.
Comments
Do you know who start the tippu jayanthi dear
This is the fact, a party built on corrupt ideology will not survive. The entire nation will know the truth.
What is their moral value of these guys who killed that person who sacrificed his whole life for the nation. What can we expect from these people. Until the past few years they were agreeing TIPU SULTAN as the best ruler, tiger of Mysore, and the man who taught to resist the invaders.
Just for the personal benefits, the same guys portray him negatively
People of such a mentality should be catalgorized as sick and mentally distorted group who should not be considered fit for election or make any policitical party.
The wise people should boycott such immoral party, Support the fair and the reliable party. If not available go for the least corrupt party.
Eddi is the only CM who spent his life in jail for corruption (not as a freedom fighter)
Think of our future geneations and our children,
God help our country from these corrupt group.
Dear Sandesh
if you want join with bjp policy no objecttion but don't involve Hindu religion. All Hindus are not as you wished.
During BJP govt all these communal leaders including cheddiyurappa was on the dias to celebrated Tipu Jayanthi so now what happen with different colour and tune.
Go with the history i/o rss book.
Jai Hind Jai Karnataka
Why all people blaming BJP. Why this govt cant avoid celebration
BJP leaders are mentally retarded people. Trouble makers
All Hindus should support BJP's decision
BJP openly said they will oppose. If they didnt say anything also they will do the same. They will make trouble as they did previous year
Govt should seek order from hc or sc for arresting all BJP goons
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