From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Feb 15: The ruling Congress party in Karnataka finally managed to get a candidate, Kalale Krishnamurthy of JD(S), to contest on its behalf in the forthcoming by-election to the Nanjangud assembly constituency in Mysuru district against former minister V Srinivas Prasad, who quit Congress on being dropped as a minister, and recently joined BJP.

Kalale Keshavamurthy had contested 2013 Assembly on the JD(S) ticket in the Nanjangud constituency and lost by a margin of 9,000 votes against Prasad.

The erstwhile JD(S) leader officially joined the Congress on Wednesday in the presence of Karnataka Pradesh Congress President G Parameshwara and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

Keshavamurthy would be official candidate of the party in the crucial by-poll to the Legislative Assembly from Nanjangud reserved segment.

The ruling Congress party was finding it difficult to find a suitable candidate to contest against Prasad, and has reportedly promised the JD(S) leader that it would look after all his election campaign and expenses.

Meanwhile, the Congress party has already named Geetha Mahadeva Prasad, wife of deceased minister H S Mahadeva Prasad, in the latter’s assembly constituency of Gundlupet in Mysuru district.

While the Congress party is confident of retaining the Gundlupet seat held by Mahadeva Prasad, it is understood that the party is bent upon trouncing Srinivas Prasad and thereby retain both the seats.