Daijiworld Media Network - Karwar (SP)

Karwar, Dec 13: In a deft move, Congress MLC Shubhalata Asnotikar, who had filed nomination papers as an independent from the local constituency for the assembly by-election slated later this month, withdrew her nomination on Friday December 12. With this, the cat and mouse game between Shubhalata and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president R V Deshpande who also hails from the district continues.

Deshpande, who had doubts about Shubhalata's loyalty to the party after her son and Congress MLA Anand Asnotikar preferred to resign from the party and joined the BJP to become a minister, had asked Shubhalata to either withdraw her nomination or face action from the party. Shubhalata has withdrawn her nomination after confirming that the nomination of her son, who has been fielded by the BJP, is accepted.

Shubhalata had, in a surprising move, filed nominations on Wednesday December 10, the last day for filing of nominations. Independent candidate Vishwambhar Talekar had argued for the rejection of her nomination on the grounds of wrong affidavit but her nomination was accepted by the returning officer. It was guessed, that Subhalata opted to file her nominations as a cover for her son, whose nomination papers were facing the risk of being rejected because of a criminal case pending against him for filing wrong affidavit.

In a press conference held on Friday evening, Shubhalata Asnotikar confirmed that she continues to be in Congress.