DK Shivakumar's nomination accepted, Congress leader to contest BJP's R Ashoka in Kanakapura

The EC has accepted DK Shivakumar's nomination paving the way for a contest between him and BJP's R Ashoka.

Bengaluru: Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar's nomination from Kanakapura constituency has been approved. Shivakumar's nomination papers were validated by the Kanakpur Election Officer and got approved. The move has brought the much needed relief to the Congress leader.

With the Election Commission accepting Shivakumar's nomination, a contest will now be held between him and BJP's R Ashoka in Kanakapura constituency. The state Congress chief, who is a seven-time MLA from Kanakapura, had submitted his nomination on April 17 amidst several party workers in a procession in the constituency in Ramanagara district. However, he was worried that his nomination could get rejected due to issues pertaining to property and tax collection. As a precaution, his elder brother DK Suresh, Congress MP from Bengaluru Rural had filed nomination hours before the deadline. Congress leaders of the state termed Suresh's nomination as a "backup plan" in case Shivakumar's nomination got rejected.

It may be mentioned that Shivakumar has assets amounting to over Rs 1,414 crores and while submitting nomination he gave details of the assets in 108 pages. His personal wealth is around Rs 1,214 crores while his wife Usha has Rs 133 crores assets and his son Akash Rs 66 crores. He has immovable property of Rs 970 crores and has Rs 244 crores inheritance and Rs 226 crore debt.

The Congress leader faces allegations of money laundering and tax evasion which are being investigated by the ED and the IT. Shivakumar, however, has accused BJP of political vendetta and denied all allegations. Four days back, IT officials had served a notice to Shivakumar and asked him to appear for questioning. The IT officials also went to Kanakapura and collected information about his property details. Following which, Shivakumar was worried that his nomination may get rejected and so his elder brother filed nomination from the same seat.

BJP has fielded Revenue minister R Ashoka, who belongs to Vokkaliga community from Kanakapura. The Kanakapura constituency is known have 60 per cent of the electorates from Vokkaliga community. The Congress has held this constituency since 1989, except between 1004 to 2008 when it was won by Janata Dal Secular. Karnataka will go for polls on May 10 and results will be declared on May 13.