555 candidates in fray for third phase polls

Bangalore, May 7 (UNI) As many as 555 candidates, including former State Chief Minister N Dharam Singh, KPCC President Mallikarjuna Kharge and BJP leader Jagadish Shettar, remained in the fray after withdrawal of nomination papers ended today for the third phase of Assembly elections in Karnataka, scheduled for May 22.

According to official sources, 187 cadidates, including Sathish Jarakiholi (Cong), remained in the fray for 18 Assembly seats in Belgaum District, after the withdrawal of 63 nominees .

In Gulbarga District, as many as 128 candidates, including Mr Singh, Mr Kharge (both Cong) and Mr Revunaik Belamagi (BJP), remained in the fray for 13 Assembly seats. Forty six candidates, majority of them Independents, had withdrawn their nominations, sources added.

In Gadag, 35 candidates, including Congress leader H K Patil, were left in the fray for four Assembly seats in the district after the withdrawal of 12 candidates. In Dharwar, 83 candidates would contest for seven Assembly seats, as 40 contestants withdraw nomination.

In Bagalkot district, 53 candidates remained in the fray, including Lok Sabha member Basavaraj Patil Yathnnal (BJP) and former Union Minister Siddu Nyamagouda (Cong), for seven Assembly seats after the withdrawal of 19 candidates.

In Haveri district, 69 contestants remained in the fray for six Assembly seats, after the withdrawal of 55 candidates. The details from Bidar and Bijapur districts are yet to be received, the sources added.

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