Belagavi : BJP candidate from Gokak Assembly constituency, Ramesh Jarkiholi, filed his nomination papers for the bypoll at Gokak town on Monday. Congress candidate Bharamgouda, alias Raju Kage, too filed his papers on the same day from Kagwad Assembly constituency.

Jarkiholi submitted his nomination papers to Returning Officer Bhoobalan T while Kage submitted his papers to Returning Officer S Gopalkrishna in Athani town. Ramesh Jarkiholi was accompanied by Minister of State for Railways Suresh Angadi and Arabhavi MLA Balachandra Jarkiholi.

The former minister is later expected to hold a rally to showcase his strength.

Kage had recently quit the BJP in protest against the party giving candidature to Srimant Patil, who had been disqualified as Congress MLA for his anti-party activities. Meanwhile, Congress candidate from Gokak constituency Lakhan Jarkiholi conducted a road show to exhibit his strength before filing his nomination papers on Monday.

Earlier in the day, Lakhan visited places of worship. He said the bypoll was a straight contest between him and Ramesh Jarkiholi. “People from the constituency are with us and we shall succeed in retaining the Congress fortress,” he said.

A large number of people, carrying Congress flags, participated in the road show to support Lakhan. Congress leader and MLA Satish Jarkiholi too was part of the road show. Imtiaz Ahmed of Bahujan Samaj Party and Puttamadaiah of Social Democratic Party of India filed their nomination papers to contest for Hunsur Assembly bypoll on Monday. The candidates, along with the supporters, took out a procession in Hunsur.

BJP nominee and former MLA A H Vishwanath filed his nomination papers to contest for Hunsur Assembly segment bypolls scheduled for December 5. Vishwanath, who was accompanied by Health Minister B Sriramulu and his supporters, submitted papers at Hunsur Assistant commission office. Earlier, Vishwanath took out a procession and a stage program was organised in the town.

Congress candidate for Athani assembly constituency Gajanan Mangsuli also filed his nomination papers on Monday. He submitted his nomination papers to Returning Officer Jilani Mokashi. Mangsuli was accompanied by Congress leader and MLA M B Patil.

Mangsuli said that he will become face of the drought and flood-affected people in the constituency as Mahesh Kumathalli, who had been elected from the constitunecy, did not come to the aid of the people when needed.

BJP candidates for Athani and Kagwad Assembly constituencies, Mahesh Kumathalli and Srimant Patil, filed their nomination papers for the bye-election on Monday. Kumathalli submitted his nomination papers to Returning Officer Jilani Mokashi, while Patil submitted his nomination papers to Returning Officer S Gopalkrishna. They were accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi, Industries and District Incharge Minister Jagadish Shettar, Mines and Geology Minister C C Patil and other leaders.

Congress leader and Yamakanamaradi MLA Satish Jarkiholi too filed his nomination papers for the bye-election from Gokak assembly constituency on Monday. Earlier, Satish had accompanied party candidate Lakhan Jarkiholi to file nomination papers of the latter. Later, accompanied by MLA Dr Anjali Nimbalkar and former legislators Veerkumar Patil and Sham Ghatge, he filed nomination papers. Though there was no reaction on it from former minister, it’s seen as standby for nomination papers filed by Lakhan.