Karnataka BJP Core Committee meeting today, to discuss RS, MLC polls

Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday said the State BJP Core Committee is all set to meet Saturday in the city to discuss the forthcoming Legislative Council and Rajya Sabha elections. “We discussed other issues during the meeting with State BJP President Nalin Kumar Kateel Thursday. The issues related to Legislative Council and Rajya Sabha elections would be discussed in detail at the Core Committee meeting on May 14,” he told reporters at his RT Nagar residence. Biennial elections to four Rajya Sabha seats from Karnataka and two graduates and 2 teachers’s constituencies of the state Legislative Council are scheduled to be held on June 10 and 13, respectively. The elections to four seats of Rajya Sabha is necessitated as the term of office of members – Nirmala Sitharaman (Union Finance Minister) and KC Ramamurthy of BJP, and Jairam Ramesh and late Oscar Fernandes of Congress is due to expire on June 30. On the other hand, the term of office of four sitting members of Karnataka Legislative Council from two graduates and teachers Constituencies is expiring on July 4. Nirani Hanamant Rudrappa of BJP from North-West Graduates’ constituency, KT Srikante Gowda of JDS South Graduates’ constituency, Arun Shahapur of BJP from North-West Teachers’ constituency and Basavaraj Shivalingappa Horatti of JDS from West Teachers’ constituency, are four members whose terms are expiring. The date of issuing of notification for Rajya Sabha election in the state is on May 24 and the last date of nominations is May 31. The scrutiny of nominations will take place on June 1 and the last date for withdrawal of candidatures is June 3. The counting of votes will be on June 10 after the polling hours between 0900 hours to 1600 hours. On the flipside, the issue of notification for MLC polls is on May 19 and the last date of making nominations is May 26. The scrutiny of nominations will take place on May 27. The last date for withdrawal of candidatures is May 30 and counting of votes will take place on June 15. Rajya Sabha members are elected by the method of indirect election, by elected members of the Legislative Assembly of respective states, as per proportional representation system by means of single transferable vote. For MLC polls to two each graduate and teachers’ constituencies, members are elected by an electorate consisting of graduates and teachers. The contesting candidates for BJP are sitting MLCs Arun Shahpur (North West Teachers’ constituency) and Hanumant Rudrappa Nirani (North West Graduates’ constituency), and former MLC M V Ravishankar for South Graduates’ Constituency. The BJP is yet to announce a candidate for West Teachers’ Constituency. According to reports Basavaraj Horatti would be fielded from this seat on BJP ticket after he resigns as State Legislative Council Chairman. In the last MLC election, Horatti had won the JDS ticket. Congress has fielded Madhu G Madegowda from South Graduates’ constituency, Basavaraja Gurikara from West Teachers’ constituency, and Prakash Hukkeri from North East Teachers’ constituency. JDS is fielding Chandrashekhar Loni as its candidate from North West Teachers’ constituency. (UNI)