Jayanagar polls: JDS candidate backs out to support Congress

The JD(S) has withdrawn its official candidate Kalegowda from the Jayanagar Assembly constituency, which is going to polls on June 11.

In a statement, party supremo H D Deve Gowda has announced that the party will instead support Congress candidate. Sowmya Reddy, daughter of Congress MLA of BTM Layout, Ramalinga Reddy is contesting from Jayanagar.

Election to Jayanagar was countermanded owing to the death of then MLA B.N. Vijayakumar.

In Jayanagar which goes to polls on June 11, Prahlad Babu, the brother of BJP MLA B.N. Vijaykumar, who died during the poll campaign is contesting as it will help the BJP encash the sympathy vote.

Considering the seriousness of the bypolls, the party has authorised Union Ministers, Ananth Kumar and D.V. Sadananda Gowda to oversee the campaign in Jayanagar and RR Nagar respectively.

The constituency has over 2.03 lakh voters, and 19 candidates. BJP has held the seat since delimitation in 2008.

The Congress and the JD(S) recently announced that they will contest the 2019 Lok Sabha polls together.