Cong fields HB Manjappa from D'gere, Vinay Kulkarni gets Dharwad

Bengaluru: Congress on Tuesday night finalised party candidates for the Dharwad and Davanagere constituencies. While former Minister Vinay Kulkarni will contest from Dharwad Lok Sabha seat, the party has chosen to field a fresh face in Davangere segment.

HB Manjappa will be replacing the veteran party leader Shamanuru Shivashankarappa in Davangere.

The announcement regarding the candidates came just two days ahead of the last date (April 4) for filing nomination for these two segments.

While names of youth Congress leader Shakir Sanadi and North West KSRTC chairman Sadananda Dangannanavar were in consideration for Dharwad seat, Kulkarni’s name was finalised as he threatened to contest as a rebel candidate if the ticket were not offered to him, said sources.

Vinay Kulkarni will be contesting against BJP sitting MP Pralhad Joshi.

In Davangere, since Shamanuru Shivashankarappa refused to contest Lok Sabha polls, citing old age, the Congress party finalized on district unit president H B Manjappa’s candidature. He will fight against BJP sitting MP and former Union Minister G M Siddeshwar.