Virajpet: Former Assembly Speaker and sitting MLA K.G. Bopaiah filed nomination as the BJP candidate from Virajpet Assembly segment  yesterday.

Bopaiah was accompanied by fellow BJP candidate from Madikeri Appachu Ranjan and other party leaders.

Tuesday, the last day of filing nomination papers, also saw the filing of nomination of five other candidates who included Padmini Ponnappa, Vice-Chairperson of Karnataka State Forest Development Corporation, as Congress rebel candidate, Harish Bopanna, who is the Personal Secretary of District in-Charge Minister M.R. Seetharam, also as a rebel Congress candidate and Advocate Appachanda Girish, Girijan leader P.S. Mutha and local leader Fayaz, all as Independents.

Speaking after filing nomination, rebel Congress candidate Padmini Ponnappa said that she had been a Congress party ticket aspirant 2008, 2013 and now also. However, she was denied the ticket on all the 3 occasions and as such, she was contesting the election as a rebel candidate with an intention of  serving the people.

Kodagu District Minister Personal Secretary Harish Bopanna, who also filed his nomination as a rebel Congress candidate, said that he had hoped for the Congress ticket. But the Congress had denied him the ticket, which has deeply hurt him.

Explaining his efforts for the formation of Ponnampet and Kushalnagar taluks, he said that he was hopeful of the people recognising his services.