Bengaluru, 24 Oct

Congress on Thursday announced Yasir Ahmed Khan Pathan as the party's candidate for 13 November Assembly bypoll from Shiggaon segment.

Pathan had faced defeat against former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai of the BJP in the 2023 Assembly polls.

Bypoll for Shiggaon is necessitated, as the seat fell vacant following the election of Bommai to Lok Sabha in May. BJP has fielded Bommai's son Bharath as its candidate.

The last date for filing nominations is 25 October, and the final date for withdrawal of papers is 30 October.

Congress had late on Wednesday night announced CP Yogeeshwara, who joined the party quitting BJP, and Ballari MP E Tukaram's wife E Annapurna as its candidates from Channapatna and Sandur, respectively. These two other segments in the State are also going for bypolls on 13 November.

In Shiggaon, the party was in a dilemma, whether the ticket should be given to a Muslim or a Panchamasali Lingayat candidate, party sources said. Along with Pathan, the names of former MLA Syed Azeempeer Khadri, and ex-minister Vinay Kulkarni's daughter Vaishali Kulkarni were also doing rounds. —PTI