From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Jun 1: A total of 13 candidates have filed their nomination papers for the June 11 biennial elections to the Karnataka Legislative Council from the Legislative Assembly constituency on Friday.

While 6 candidates are from the ruling BJP, 4 are from Congress, 1 from JD(S) and 2 are Independents who filed their nomination papers on the last day for filing nominations.

The nominations would be scrutinised on June 2. The last day for withdrawal is June 4.

The 6 candidates from BJP are  B J Puttaswamy, Vimala Gowda, D S Veeraiah (both sitting members), party state general secretary Raghunath Rao Malkapure, party State vice-president M B Bhanuprakash and senior worker Somanna Bevinamarada.

Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, State BJP President K S Eshwarappa, Ministers V Somnna, C M Udasi, Umesh Katti and other party leaders were present when the BJP candidates field their papers.

Four candidates of the Congress who filed their papers are: Leader of the Opposition in the Council Motamma; former MP from Gulbarga Iqbal Ahmed Saradagi, KPCC general secretary and Karnataka Olympic Association president K Govindaraju; and former MLA M R Seetharam.

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President G Parameshwara was present.

Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah, who is upset over his loyalist former Union Minister C M Ibrahim being denied nomination, was conspicuous by his absence.

JD(S) has fielded Sayyed Mudeer Aga, a resident of Ramangaram taluk and loyal party worker.

Independent candidate Byrathi Suresh, supported by JD(S), filed his nomination paper. T D R Harichandra Gowda also filed the paper as independent, which however would be declared invalid on Saturday as no MLA has proposed his name.

In the 225 member assembly, BJP strength is 122, including the Speaker, one nominated and one independent - Minister Varthur Parakash.

The Congress strength is 71, JD(S) is 26.

Apart from Varthur Prakash, there are six independents.

Each candidate has to secure a minimum of 19 votes to win the elections.

The Chief Minister, who spoke to reporters after the ruling party candidates filed their papers, expressed confidence of ensuring the victory of six candidates from the party.

Eshwarappa said there were no differences among the leaders over selection of candidates.

Unlike the Congress, Eshwarappa said BJP selected party candidates after holding consultations with all leaders in the State.

Three candidates of the Congress are expected to sail through given the strength of the Congress in the Assembly while the fourth candidate requires the support of independents.

The presence of Byrathi Suresh could, however, upset the calculations of the Congress party if he manages to win the support of other independents besides the surplus votes of JD(S) and one excess vote from BJP.