Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SD)

Bengaluru, Oct 7: Gearing up for the upcoming by-elections the Karnataka Congress on Wednesday, October 7 announced that former minister T B Jayachandra and wife of late IAS officer D K Ravi - H Kusuma will be the party's candidates.

The former minister T B Jayachandra will be contesting in Sira assembly constitution while Kusuma will be the party's candidate in Rajarajeshwari Nagar (R R Nagar) assembly constituency, the Congress announced.

Both the constituencies - R R Nagar assembly and Sira in Tumkaru district will hold by-polls on November 3. The election notifications will be issued on October 9, filing of nomination to be done by October 16 and on November 10 counting of votes will take place.

T B Jayachandra (left) and H Kusuma

Kusuma had recently joined the Congress. Five years ago, her husband D K Ravi was found dead in his residence in March 2015. The then chief minister Siddaramaiah had ordered a CBI probe after allegations were made stating that Congress MLAs had harassed him. However, the CBI enquiry concluded that Ravi had ended his own life.

Jayachandra had previously represented Sira constituency twice in 2008 and 2013 defeating Sathyanarayana of JD(S) who turned the cards and defeated him in 2018 assembly polls. The death of the JD(S) MLA called for the by-election in Sira. The wife of the late MLA, Ammajamma will be representing the JD(S). The Congress and JD(S) have so far been the two strong opponents and the BJP is yet to make a mark in the constituency. A strong contestant from BJP will pave a three-way contest.