Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Mar 22: The Congress on Sunday announced its candidates for the upcoming Assembly by-elections in Karnataka, naming Umesh Meti and Samarth Mallikarjun for Bagalkot and Davanagere South constituencies, respectively.
Umesh Meti, son of former minister late H Y Meti, has been fielded from Bagalkot, while Samarth Mallikarjun, grandson of former MLA late Shamanur Shivashankarappa, will contest from Davanagere South.
The bypolls were necessitated following the demise of the sitting Congress legislators H Y Meti, a prominent Kuruba leader, and Shamanur Shivashankarappa, a senior Veerashaiva-Lingayat leader.
Samarth, son of horticulture minister S S Mallikarjun and Davanagere MP Prabha Mallikarjun, had filed his nomination earlier and is expected to refile it on Monday with the official party ‘B form’ in the presence of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
The selection of Samarth triggered discontent among sections of the Muslim community, which has a significant voter base in the constituency. Community leaders had staked claim to the ticket, citing an assurance by the late leader. However, the party leadership opted to continue the legacy by fielding a family member.
In a bid to pacify the community, AICC general secretary in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala held discussions with Siddaramaiah, deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar, and senior Muslim leaders, including housing minister Zameer Ahmed Khan. The leadership reportedly assured adequate representation in upcoming MLC and Rajya Sabha nominations.
In Bagalkot, the party also witnessed internal competition among members of the Meti family before finalising Umesh Meti’s candidature.
The by-elections are being viewed as a crucial test for the ruling Congress ahead of future polls, including the 2028 Assembly elections. While the party is banking on its welfare guarantees, the BJP is looking to capitalise on possible anti-incumbency sentiment.
The BJP has fielded former MLA Veeranna Charantimath from Bagalkot, who had narrowly lost in the 2023 Assembly elections. In Davanagere South, the party has nominated Srinivas T Dasakariyappa, an ST Nayaka leader, aiming to consolidate support among SC, ST and OBC voters.
The JD(S), which is allied with the BJP, is expected to actively campaign, with union minister H D Kumaraswamy and his son Nikhil Kumaraswamy set to hit the campaign trail, party sources said.