Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Apr 19: Former chief minister and senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah filed his nomination papers from the Varuna constituency and addressed a rally in his home turf. At the rally, the 75-year-old politician announced that this assembly election will be his final election as a candidate.

"After this assembly election, I will quit electoral politics. The people of Varuna have always been with me, and because of their support, I have reached places in my political career. This will be my last time filing papers from the Varuna constituency," said Siddaramaiah. He won from the Chamundeswari constituency in 1983 for the first time and later played an important role in Janata Dal (Secular) and the Congress party. He also served as chief minister of Karnataka between 2013 and 2018.

In the 2018 assembly elections, Siddaramaiah contested from Badami and Chamundeswari constituencies but only won in Badami. In this assembly election, he is contesting from his traditional Varuna constituency, as he was denied a ticket in Kolar, where he had earlier announced his candidacy. Siddaramaiah is also eyeing the chief ministerial post once again, if the Congress manages to win the assembly elections.

The Election Commission of India announced that the assembly elections in the state will be held on May 10, and the results will be declared on May 13. The last date for filing nominations is April 20, and the last date to withdraw nominations is April 24.