BJP’s Prabhakar Kore today filed his nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka. The state which goes to the polls on June 19. Kore, a prominent Lingayat leader who runs a number of educational institutions in the state, was renominated by the central leadership of BJP, which can win one seat based on its strength of 43 MLAs in the 225-member Assembly.
Union Minister Ananth Kumar and state BJP President Prahlad Joshi accompanied Kore, who is seeking a second term as Rajya Sabha member, when he filed papers, officials said.
The ruling Congress with 121 members can easily win two seats and is eyeing another with the support of non-BJP parties in the elections being held to fill up four seats.
Congress is expected to renominate former External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and B K Hariprasad. June 9 is the last day for filing nomination papers. Meanwhile, senior state BJP leader K S Eshwarappa filed his nomination papers for the Legislative Council elections. Seven members of the Council will be elected by Assembly members in the June 19 polls.