BENGALURU: Former railway minister and senior Congress leader C K Jaffer Sharief called on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and is learnt to have sought party ticket for his grandson Rahman Sharief to contest the Hebbal Assembly bypoll. The seat fell vacant due to the demise of Jagadish Kumar (BJP). Jaffer met the CM at the latter’s official residence “Krishna” and was closeted for over half an hour.
Rahman had unsuccessfully contested the 2013 Assembly polls against Jagadish. Jaffer, who was upset with the party after he was denied ticket to contest the 2014 Lok Sabha polls from Bangalore Central, remained aloof from party activities and did not even campaign for party candidates in the recently held BBMP polls. After gaining knowledge about Jaffer’s meeting with Siddaramaiah, MLC H M Revanna (Congress), who had lost out to Rahman in getting ticket to contest the Assembly polls, rushed to “Krishna” along with his supporters and met Siddaramaiah. He is learnt to have staked claim for party ticket. Though the Election Commission is yet to announce the date for the bypoll, the clamour for party ticket has baffled Congress leaders.