Uncertainty over seer's candidature in Hirekerur

Uncertainty looms over the candidature of Shivalinga Shivacharya Swami of Kabbinakanthi Mutt in Hirekerur, after reported pressure from BJP to withdraw his candidature.

The JD(S) had fielded the seer as their candidate against BJP's B C Patil. Both candidates belong to the same sub-caste of the Lingayat community and a vote split is expected with the seer's candidature. However, on Tuesday, the seer received pressure reportedly from a section of BJP. "Pressure is being exerted on him to withdraw his candidature. Following this, the seer spoke to H D Kumaraswamy about his dilemma. Kumaraswamy has left it to the seer to take the ultimate call," a JD(S) leader told DH.

The party had earlier fielded a software engineer Ujenappa Jattappa Kodihalli. The candidate, who was asked to withdraw nomination papers to make way for the seer, is now contesting as an independent.

Nominee changed

Meanwhile, the party has also changed its candidate in Chikkaballapur. It had decided to field K P Bachegowda and now has gone ahead with another candidate K Radhakrishna, who belongs to Shidlaghatta in Chikkaballapur district.