Bengaluru: The Election Commission this morning accepted the nomination of Congress State President D.K. Shivakumar for the Kanakapura Assembly Constituency, clearing the way for a high-profile contest between him and Revenue Minister R. Ashoka of the BJP.

Yesterday, as a precautionary measure in case his nomination was cancelled, his brother and Bengaluru Rural MP D.K. Suresh, also filed his papers for the same Constituency as a backup candidate.

Shivakumar is facing multiple investigations by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Income Tax (IT) Department in connection with alleged money laundering and tax evasion cases. He has denied any wrongdoing and accused the BJP-led Central Government of  political vendetta.

 Addressing reporters in Bengaluru this morning, Shivakumar said he would fight till his last breath after the Karnataka High Court dismissed his plea challenging the sanction given by the State Government to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to prosecute him.

 Shivakumar had challenged both the sanction and the FIR in two separate petitions before the High Court. “I will fight till the last breath. I believe in a court of law. I still believe they have done an injustice. Everything is transparent,” he said.