West Graduates’ Constituency poll: All 18 nominations found valid

The scrutiny of nomination papers filed for the election to Karnataka West Graduates’ constituency of the Karnataka Legislative Council was held on Wednesday and all the nomination papers filed by 18 candidates have been declared as valid.Regional Commissioner of Belagavi and Returning Officer for the election to the constituency, K.M. Janaki, scrutinised the nominations on Wednesday in the presence of Dharwad Deputy Commissioner Snehal R. and election observer Manoj Jain, and found all 36 sets of nomination papers valid, a release said.Candidates now have time till October 9 to withdraw their nominations.Two-time MLC and BJP candidate S.V. Sankanur is seeking a third term. The Congress has fielded advocate and former MLC Mohan Limbikai against him. R.M. Kuberappa, who unsuccessfully contested the Teachers’ Constituency election twice as a BJP candidate and later unsuccessfully contested as a Congress candidate, is in the fray as an Independent this time. Student leader Kanthakumar R. is also contesting.Other candidates in the fray include Nishant Shankar Bankapur of Haveri district (Karnataka Rashtra Samithi), Mallikarjun Channappa Gangadhar of Dharwad district (Kittur Kalyana Karnataka Sena) and Talawar Shivakumar of Haveri district (Janata Chaluvali Bharat Party).The Independents include Abdul Mannan, Imran Kudal, Dr. G.H. Imrapur, Umesh Krishnappa Daivajna, Krishna H. Balegar, Kanthakumar R., Jishan D. Sirsangi, Zeeshan Ahmed Khan Pathan, Basavaraj Shankarappa Kotagi, Saleem Mohammed Haneef Jawali, Suresh S. Bishtanagoudar and Santosh Manohar Vernekar.Nominations were filed between September 29 and October 6. The constituency comprises Dharwad, Gadag, Haveri and Uttara Kannada districts. Published - October 07, 2026 07:14 pm IST