2023 Karnataka Assembly Election: Congress releases list of 43 candidates for polls; to field ex-deputy CM from BJP

The Congress on Saturday fielded ex-BJP leader and former deputy chief minister Laxman Savadi from the Athani assembly seat as the Grand Old Party submitted its third list of 43 candidates for the Karnataka Assembly elections.

As per the list, the party did not field ex-chief minister Siddharamaiah from the Kolar assembly constituency. It instead fielded Kothur G Manjunath from the seat.

Although Siddharamaiah was seeking to contest from the Kolar assembly seat as the second constituency, the party had already fielded him from the Varuna constituency, earlier represented by his son.

The party also fielded former Governor Margaret Alva's son Nivedit Alva from the Kumta assembly seat.

The party has so far fielded candidates in 209 seats, including 124 seats in the first list, and another 42 seats in the second list, and is yet to announce the seats of 15 more candidates.

Savadi, who announced his decision to resign from the primary membership of the BJP after being denied a ticket to contest in the May 10 Assembly elections, had joined the Congress on Friday.

Savadi, a Lingayat leader in the Belagavi district, on Friday resigned from the Legislative Council and the BJP before heading to the office of the Congress.

"From today onwards, I have no connection with the BJP. I will be a devoted and loyal worker of the Congress, just as I was in the BJP for 20 to 25 years," he had said.

(With inputs from PTI)