Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday filed his nominations as BJP's candidate from Shiggaon segment for the upcoming Assembly polls on May 10 and expressed confidence of getting elected again with the highest number of votes.
Bommai was accompanied by Public Works Minister C C Patil, Haveri-Gadag MP Shivakumar Udasi, and son Bharath Bommai among others as he submitted his papers to the Returning Officer.
Bommai, son of former Karnataka chief minister and Janata Parivar veteran late S R Bommai, has represented Shiggaon thrice since 2008.
Before filing his nomination, Bommai visited Shiggaon's popular Siddarudh Math. "To build a new Karnataka for a new India, today before filing nomination papers in my home constituency Shiggon –Savanur, I visited my deity Sri Siddharudh Math and sought god's blessings," he said in a post on Twitter.
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"I have filed my nomination today. People of my Shiggaon constituency have supported me tremendously in the past and this time too, I'm confident of breaking all the records and getting elected with the highest number of votes. People here are aware voters and they vote for development," Bommai said after filing his nomination.
Pointing out that he had submitted his nomination papers as there was a good muhurta (time) today, Bommai added that he will be filing nomination once again on April 19 in the presence of BJP national President J P Nadda and other senior leaders.
To a question that Congress was planning to field a strong candidate against him, the Chief Minister said, "Opponent is an opponent whether strong or weak, I will take everyone equally. If there are opponents, only then there will be a contest. I'm confidence in the people of my constituency, who have supported me."
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Bommai's political career
Bommai won in Shiggaon in the 2018 Assembly polls by about 9,260 votes. He started his political career with the Janata Dal, and was member of the Karnataka Legislative Council twice (in 1998 and 2004) from Dharwad local authorities constituency, and had also served as Parliament Secretary to Chief Minister and as Deputy Leader of Opposition.
He quit Janata Dal (United) and joined the BJP in 2008 and in the Assembly elections held later that year got elected as MLA from Shiggaon constituency in Haveri district. He then went on to retain the seat in 2013 and 2018 Assembly polls.
Bommai, who served as Home Minister in the B S Yediyurappa-led BJP government, became the Chief Minister in 2021 following the veteran leader stepping down from the post, citing age and making way for others as reasons.
The BJP has so far put out a list of 212 candidates for the Assembly election and has not yet announced the names of remaining 12 seats.
(With inputs from PTI)
