Bengaluru: Amid speculation of multiple aspirants in the fray and family rift over candidature, Congress Sunday announced Samarth Mallikarjun and Umesh Meti as party’s candidates for April 9 Davangere South and Bagalkot by-elections.KPCC president DK Shivakumar said the party has followed the tradition of giving tickets to the family members of the late legislators. He expressed confidence of retaining both seats.While Davanagere South seat was held by Shamanur Shivashankarappa, Bagalkot was represented by HY Meti, both from Congress.After days of “negotiations” with Muslim community seeking a ticket from Davangere, which has a 40% voting population in the segment, it was decided to continue with the Congress template of giving ticket to the family member of the legislator who passed away and necessitated the bypoll.Since the party had decided to pick Meti’s son for Bagalkot, it became imperative for the party to look within the Shamanur family for bypoll candidature. Samarth’s father Mallikarun is a Karnataka minister and mother MP from Davanagere.Sources claimed Mallikarjun demanded a ticket for son Samarth as the family patriarch Shivashankarappa was president of All India Veershaiva Linagayat Mahasabha and his legacy could not be ignored. “As a result, it was decided to hand the ticket to Samarth,” said a senior leader present at the meeting Saturday night.On a third member from his family entering electoral politics, Mallikarjun said the party, including the CM, deputy CM and AICC general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala, thrust the responsibility on the Shamanur family.In Bagalkot, Congress gave a ticket to Umesh. His sister Mahadevi had threatened to contest as a rebel candidate if Umesh didn’t land a ticket.The KPCC president said he would travel to both constituencies on Monday at the time of filing nomination papers. CM Siddaramaiah is busy preparing a reply to the budget discussions in the legislature.WENT WITH POPULAR OPINION: DKSBagalkot conundrum: Meti’s all four children wanted ticket. Though the eldest son was a front-runner, local leaders rooted for UmeshDavanagere dilemma: On Muslim community seeking ticket, DK Shivakumar said he saw nothing wrong. On a possible tradeoff, DKS said Abdul Jabbar, a longtime aspirant, is an incumbent MLC in his third term
