The number of candidates contesting the Karnataka Assembly Elections, due to be held on May 10, has reached 2,613 after the withdrawal of candidatures ended on Monday, according to election officials.
By Monday, the number of candidates who had withdrawn their candidacy had risen to 517. This was because of the “rebel trouble” that several parties faced in various constituencies.
The Chief Electoral Officer, Karnataka, reported that out of the 2,613 candidates in the poll fray, 2,427 are male, 184 are female, and there are 2 others.
224 candidates from the BJP, 223 from the Congress (supporting the Sarvodaya Karnataka Party in Melukote), 207 from the JD(S), 209 from the AAP, 133 from the BSP, 4 from the CPI(M), 8 from the JD(U), and 2 from the NPP are among the competing candidates from recognised political parties.
Of the total number of candidates contesting in the election, 685 are from Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPP), and 918 are independent.
For 16 constituencies where there are more than 15 candidates running, two Ballot Units (BUs) will be used during the polling process.
The political parties worked hard until the last possible moment to persuade the rebel candidates, who were unhappy about not being given tickets by their respective parties, to withdraw their papers.
In some constituencies, “rebel trouble” threatened the electoral prospects of official candidates. This was particularly true for the BJP and Congress, compared to other parties, who managed to persuade the rebel candidates to withdraw.
Congress rebels are challenging its candidates in Pulakeshinagar, Harapanahalli, Shirahatti, Shikaripura, Jagalur, and Arakalagudu. Sources close to the party confirm this.
BJP is facing a rebel revolt in various constituencies such as Puttur, Afzalpur, Goolihatti Shekhar, Bailhongal, Gundlupet, Chennagiri, Malur, and Gandhi Nagar, according to party sources.
Former Bengaluru Mayor Gangambike Mallikarjun (Congress) and Mahadevappa Yadawad (BJP) have withdrawn as rebel candidates from Chickpet and Ramdurg, respectively.
Voting for the 224-seat assembly will occur on May 10, and the election results will be announced on May 13.
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