TNN

Bangalore, Dec 10: Battlelines are drawn between the JD(S), Congress and BJP as candidates of the first two parties submitted their nomination papers. The BJP candidate will file on December 10. On Monday, B V Naik (Congress), son of sitting MP Venkatesh Naik who lost the last assembly elections to his grandson and minister Shivangowda, and Dr Raghu (JDS) filed their papers. Sitting legislator Shivangowda decided to file on December 10, last day for filing of nomination papers.

If it is a battle royale between cousins B V Naik and Shivangowda, who resigned after winning on a JDS ticket to join the BJP, Dr Raghu is making his political debut. If ideology divides them, wealth is a common factor.

Barring Naik, all are novices of sorts to their parties. While Shivangowda joined the BJP six months ago, he is yet to get tuned to its culture and its cadre in the taluk, Raghu is coming to terms with political gamesmanship.

Many BJP leaders from the taluk claim Shivangowda is yet to familiarize himself with the workers leaders and the party's style of functioning. The scene in the JD(S) is worse as it's candidate is grappling with the basics of politics, say politicians from the district, alleging that Raghu got the ticket by virtue of his father's friendship with JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda. Dr Raghu's father was a KPSC member when Deve Gowda was the chief minister.