2,244 candidates in fray in Karna assembly polls

Thu, May 8 03:47 PM

Bangalore, May 8 (PTI) In all, 2,244 aspirants, including some prominent politicians, are testing their fortunes in the three phased assembly elections in Karnataka being held on May 10, 16 and 22. The first phase of election in 89 assembly segments, covering 11 districts, mainly in old Mysore region, has the highest number of 941 candidates, while 592 are in the fray for the second leg in 66 constituencies in 10 districts and 711 from eight districts spread over 69 segments.

The number of contestants this time has crossed the 2,200 mark compared to 1,715 who tested their electoral luck in the 2004 assembly election. It would be a record of sorts for veteran Congress leader and former chief minister N Dharam Singh who is bidding for ninth successive victory in his stronghold Jewargi.

Singh, who led the first ever coalition government of Congress along with JDS, was initially reluctant to take a plunge into the electoral arena, but changed his mind. His long time associate in the party and a close friend, KPCC President M Mallikarjun Kharge is also set to seek people's mandate for a ninth consecutive win, albeit from another constituency.

Kharge who held the Gurumitkal Reserved constituency in Gulbarga district is now contesting from Chitapur reserved seat after his earlier constituency became General in the delimitation process. Former minister R V Deshpande is seeking re-election from Haliyal in Uttar Kannada district, for the seventh successive term.

PTI.

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