Senior Congress leaders and ministers Satish Jarkiholi and Lakshmi Hebbalkar stated that the party is deliberating on the possibility of nominating their children for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. During a press briefing in Nippani on Tuesday, Mr. Jarkiholi informed reporters that party officials are contemplating the candidacy of his daughter, Priyanka Jarkiholi, who serves as a Youth Congress leader, for the Chikkodi constituency.
“However, I am yet to talk to her and find out if she is interested,” he said. The 27-year-old woman leader has an MBA degree.
“We had suggested two names from Belgaum and two names from Chikkodi. We wanted to give Belgaum ticket to a Lingayat candidate and Chikkodi ticket to a candidate from the Kuruba community. But the party high command has rejected the names we suggested following some survey reports. It is likely that the candidates will be chosen based on survey reports,” Mr. Jarkiholi added.
On Tuesday, speaking to reporters in Malur, located in Kolar district, Ms. Hebbalkar expressed that her supporters are advocating for her son, Mrunal Hebbalkar, to run for office in Belgaum, while party members are endorsing Priyanka Jarkiholi for the Chikkodi constituency. “Even when my brother Channaraj Hattiholi was fielded as Congress candidate in the Legislative Council elections, it was based on a demand from workers,” she said.
Both leaders affirmed that the ultimate decision will be made by the party’s high command.
