Kharge files nomination papers for Rajya Sabha polls from Karnataka

:

All India Congress Committee president Mallikarjun Kharge filed his nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha elections from Karnataka in the presence of Opposition Leader Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi.

Mr. Kharge is seeking re-election to the Rajya Sabha. Mansoor Ali Khan, son of former Union Minister K. Rahman Khan, and Pawan Khera, head of the party’s media and publicity wing, are the other two candidates of the party. Elections were to be held on June 18.

Elections will be held for four seats in the electoral college comprising MLAs and the Congress has sufficient numbers to secure three seats in the Assembly.

Mr. Kharge came to Vidhana Soudha along with Mr. Gandhi and submitted his nomination papers to Legislative Assembly Secretary MK Vishalakshi.

Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president BK Hariprasad accompanied Mr. Kharge and two party candidates.

Cabinet portfolio discussion during car ride

Mr. Shivakumar and Mr. Hariprasad traveled in the same car with Mr. Gandhi and there were reportedly discussions among ministers over discontent over the allocation of portfolios to them.

Eight-time MLA Ramalinga Reddy resigned from the Cabinet after the water resources portfolio was allocated to him, claiming that Mr Shivakumar had promised him the Bengaluru Development portfolio, but it was eventually allocated to Krishna Byre Gowda.

KH Muniyappa was also unhappy with the allocation of the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs portfolio to him.