Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jan 28: When Rehman Sharief, grandson of Congress stalwart, Jaffer Sharief, filed his nomination papers from Hebbal constituency for the bypoll here on Wednesday January 27, none among top Congress leadership was present. The camp loyal to chief minister (CM), Siddaramaiah, which is sulking at the way it was humiliated in its efforts to secure ticket for Byrathi Suresh, made no bones about its anger. None of the top leaders were present when Sharief filed his nomination.

Rehman Sharief filed his nomination papers at the office of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike office at J C Nagar on Wednesday afternoon. He was accompanied by a huge number of his fans, but prominent Congress leaders were conspicuous by their absence. State minister for transport, Ramalinga Reddy, and former MP, Narayana Swamy, were the only two politicians of some eminence who appeared at the venue.

Bengaluru urban development minister, K J George, who happens to be in-charge of Hebbal constituency, was among the absentees. It is gathered that when Rehman Sharief went to meet the CM at his official residence before filing nomination, he was made to wait for over 90 minutes. Sharief arrived at 'Kaveri', official residence of the CM, at around 9.30 am and waited for about one and half hours. His grandfather, Jaffer Sharief, too came there later. He exchanged pleasantries and had a few minutes of discussions with the CM before leaving to file his nomination papers.

Some sources said that Rehman Sharief arrived at the CM's residence without prior intimation. When the CM invited him to meet him, he said he would wait for the arrival of his grandfather. After Jaffer Sharief came there, he met the CM, it is being claimed.

Jaffer Sharief said that the CM extended best wishes to his grandson. He added that he had asked the CM to participate in the election campaigning for Rehman Sharief.