Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (MS)
Bengaluru, Mar 10: B M Farook, Mangaluru-based businessman and senior chief secretary of JD(S) on Friday March 9 filed his nomination for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections on JD(S) ticket.
Farook submitted his nomination to secretary of the Legislative Assembly, S Murthy, who is also an election officer. He was accompanied by Kupendra Reddy, member of Rajya Sabha, P G R Sindhia, national working president of JD(S), and MLAs Madhu Bangarappa and Gopalaiah.
It is learnt that Farook's nomination was seconded by 10 MLAs, which included JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy, leader of JD(S) in the Assembly, H D Revanna, H S Prakash, K M Shivalingegowda, H K Kumaraswamy, K Gopalaiah, C N Balakrishna, M Rajanna, M T Krishnappa and Manjunath Gowda.
Speaking to reporters after filing the nomination, B M Farook said, "I am confident of winning the Rajya Sabha (RS) elections, which is going to be held on March 23. God's blessings are also on me. I am contesting as RS candidate as per the instructions of the party leaders. Discussions have already been held with our party legislators and also with independent legislators, and they all have promised to stand by me.
"I do not know much about the support sought from Congress legislators and also about cross-voting by some legislators. These issues will be looked into by the party high command. I am confident of winning this time," he said.
Sources say that JD(S) nomination has come as a surprise as the party has no strength to win the RS polls and Congress has ruled out support. Chief minister Siddaramaiah has said that Congress would be fielding a third candidate.
JD(S) national president Deve Gowda lashed out at Congress for not supporting his party. After a recent core committee meeting, Gowda reminded the Congress that it had extended its indirect support to the Congress by not fielding candidates in Gundlupet and Nanjangud bypolls, and it expected the same for Farook. "The Congress did not field a candidate in 2014 when it came to get our candidate Kupendra Reddy elected. Now, when it is the turn of B M Farook, why is the Congress, which claims to be a guardian angel of minorities, trying to oppose us?" Gowda questioned.
Farook had filed nomination for the Rajya Sabha in 2016 also, but was defeated. The JD(S) however decided to back him again given his loyalty to the party and seniority.