Mallikarjun Kharge files nomination for Rajya Sabha from Karnataka

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, Jun 5, 2026: All India Congress Committee president Mallikarjun Kharge has filed his nomination papers for elections to the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka in the presence of Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi.

Mr Kharge is seeking re-election to the Rajya Sabha. Mansoor Ali Khan, son of former Union Minister K. Rahman Khan, and the party’s media and publicity wing head, Pawan Khera, are the other two candidates of the party. Elections would be held on June 18.

Elections would be held for four seats from the electoral college comprising MLAs, and the Congress has sufficient numbers in the Assembly to secure three seats.

Mr Kharge, along with Mr Gandhi, arrived at the Vidhana Soudha and submitted their nomination papers to the Legislative Assembly Secretary M.K. Vishalakshi.

Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president B.K. Hariprasad accompanied Mr Kharge and two party candidates.
Cabinet portfolio discussion during car ride

Mr Shivakumar and Mr Hariprasad travelled in the same car as of Mr Gandhi and reportedly held discussions related to disgruntlement among the ministers over allocation of portfolios to them.

Eight-time MLA Ramalinga Reddy resigned from the Cabinet following allocation of the water resources portfolio to him and claimed Mr Shivakumar promised him the Bengaluru Development portfolio, but it was eventually allocated to Krishna Byre Gowda.

K.H. Muniyappa too was not happy about allotting him the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs portfolio.