Basavaraj Bommai, Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi and Bhagwanth Khuba file nominations

Bommai’s opponent from Congress, Anandswamy Gaddadevarmath, too filed his papers on Monday.

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Others who filed nominations

Joshi who is the Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Coal and Mines, formally entered the fray from Dharwad. Veteran party leader BS Yediyurappa and former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar were among the leaders who were with him.

Prior to filing his nomination, Joshi held a road show accompanied by the leaders.

Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers and New and Renewable Energy Bhagwanth Khuba filed his nomination papers from Bidar.

Geetha Shivarajkumar, who is also the daughter of former Chief Minister late S Bangarappa and daughter-in-law of Kannada thespian late Rajkumar filed her nomination as Congress candidate from Shimoga.

She was accompanied by Shivarajkumar, her brother and state’s School Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa, and several party leaders. They also held a road show, in which Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress President DK Shivakumar participated.

Mrinal Hebbalkar, son of Lakshmi Hebbalkar, Minister of Women and Child Development in the state, also filed his nomination as the Congress candidate from the Belgaum Lok Sabha segment.

He too was accompanied by Shivakumar and party leader Laxman Savadi among others. His road show earlier in the day featured his mother, senior minister Satish Jarkiholi and other leaders.

Among other candidates who filed their papers were BJP MP Annasaheb Shankar Jolle, who is seeking re-election from Chikkodi and the party’s MP GM Siddeshwara’s wife Gayathri Siddeshwara from Davangere.

As many as 14 out of 28 Lok Sabha seats will be going to polls in the second phase for which 19 April is the last day for filing nominations.

Scrutiny of nominations will take place on 20 April.  The last day for withdrawal of papers is 22 April.

In the first phase, 14 Lok Sabha constituencies are going to polls on 26 April.

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