Bangaluru, April 22: Congress releases next list of 11 candidates for the upcoming Karnataka elections 2018. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will be contesting from Badami from where the party has earlier given ticket to Dr. Devraj Patil. Siddaramaiah is already contesting the elections from Chamundeshwari seat in Mysuru. He had been contesting from the Varuna constituency since 2008, but this time he has left the seat for his son, Dr Yatheendra.

The chief minister has filed his nomination papers from Chamundeshwari constituency on Friday. Siddaramaiha has won five times from Chamundeshwari and faced defeat twice. According to a report published in NDTV on Friday, Siddaramaiah said, “It is not that I am interested in contesting in Badami. The leaders from North Karnataka particularly, they wanted me to contest from Badami. According to them, if I contest in Badami, it helps neighbouring constituencies and helps the constituencies where 50-50 chances are there.  Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge told ANI,  " Modi Ji also contested election from two seats. He (Siddaramaiah) is contesting election from the two constituencies (Chamundeshwari and Badami) under directions by Party's High Command."

Congress releases next list of 11 candidates for #KarnatakaElections2018; CM Siddaramaiah to contest from Badami (in place of Dr Devraj Patil) & KP Chandrakala (in place of HS Chandra Mouli,reportedly lawyer of Mehul Choksi). CM Siddaramaiah is also contesting from Chamundeshwari pic.twitter.com/43653PqO7w

— ANI (@ANI) April 22, 2018

In another change Congress replaced its candidate HS Chandramouli for Madikeri seat. Now KP Chandrakala will be contesting elections from that seat. HS Chandramaouli is the lawyer of Mehul Choksi, one of the accused in PNB scam. This might have forced congress to replace him.

The elections to the 224-seat assembly in Karnataka are scheduled for May 12. Counting of votes will take place on May 15. Congress has announced its candidates on all the seats.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 22, 2018 03:42 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).