Karnataka: Tejasvi Surya, Kumaraswamy, CN Manjunath file nominations for first phase of LS polls

NDA candidates Bengaluru south MP Tejasvi Surya, former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy, and well-known cardiologist CN Manjunath, among others, filed their nominations for the general elections on Thursday -- the last day for filing nominations for the first phase of polls in the state.

Kumaraswamy, who will be contesting from the Mandya seat was accompanied by BJP veteran BS Yediyurappa in a show of support for the BJP-JDS alliance. The former CM filed his nomination a day after Mandya’s sitting independent MP Sumalatha Ambareesh bowed out of the candidate race and joined the BJP, easing worries that votes would be split in the region if she opted to contest independently.

Surya, who held a mega-roadshow along with Union Minister Anurag Thakur, Mysuru MP Pratap Simha, and leader of opposition R Ashoka, expressed confidence that he would win with a bigger margin in his constituency than last time. “Bengaluru has received approvals for projects worth more than Rs 1.3 lakh crore in the last five years alone from PM [Narendra] Modi, the highest contribution by any PM…I am confident that the citizens of the constituency will bless me to serve them for another five years,” he said.


Manujnath filed his nomination from Bengaluru Rural, the Congress’ lone seat in the Lok Sabha in the state, held by deputy CM DK Shivakumar’s brother DK Suresh. He was accompanied by BJP leaders and MLAs CN Ashwathnarayan, Munirathna, and M Krishnappa.

Former PM HD Deve Gowda’s grandson and Hassan sitting MP Prajwal Revanna, filed his papers as well, after a mega roadshow that included Gowda, BJP state president BY Vijayendra, and former CM Sadananda Gowda.