'I filed nomination for Badami on party's request', says Siddaramaiah

Karnataka Chief minister Siddaramaiah in Badami on Tuesday said that he was under pressure from local party leaders in Bagalkote and Vijayapura districts to contest from Badami, as it would 'benefit' the Congress' prospects in the region.

Siddaramaiah said,''I decided to contest from Badami when local leaders requested me. They told me 'you needn't come here for campaigning, we'll do the rest'. I filed nomination (for Badami) on their request and party high command's directions.

''I have come here as the CM candidate and Congress will come back to power. There is no doubt about it. I will put Badami in the first place in the development of the state,'' Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah also said.

Siddaramaiah filed his nomination from a second constituency, Badami in north Karnataka, as the deadline for entering the fray for the May 12 assembly elections ended today.

It may be recalled that Siddaramaiah has already filed his nomination from Chamundeshwari in Mysuru and Sriramulu from Molakalmuru in Chitradurga district.

Meanwhile, the BJP fielded party Lok Sabha member and Scheduled Tribe leader B Sriramulu, who also filed his papers from Badami, making it his second constituency.

The chief minister's nomination from Badami came after days of speculation on whether he would be contesting from a second constituency.