Only a few people were elected to the Lok Sabha, including ex-IPS officers H T Sangliana and Kodandaramaiah, while H Nagesh, a KPTCL engineer, ran from Mulbagal and won. On the other hand, Siddaiah, who ran on a Congress ticket from the Sakaleshpur constituency, and former chief secretary K Rathna Prabha, who ran on a BJP ticket in Andhra Pradesh, did not fare as well politically as they did administratively.
This time, as in previous years, several retired bureaucrats and officials are lobbying for tickets from all of the major political parties. Former IPS officer Basakar Rao dumped the khaki and embraced the khadi by joining the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the presence of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. He is likely to contest from the Basavanagudi constituency.
Similarly, former information commissioner and IRS officer Sudham Das have resigned and is aspiring to run for Congress from the Nelamangala constituency. His predecessor, L Krishnamurthy, is also an aspirant from the same constituency. Retired IAS officer H T Anil Kumar is likely to begin his political career from the BJP in the Koratagere constituency while retired civil servant Laxminarayan has sought a ticket from Hagaribommanahalli in Ballari district.
Siddaiah is again lobbying for Sakaleshpur or Mulbagal tickets. Retired vice-chancellor Maheshappa has plans to contest from Harihara and Mallikarjuna, who is serving in the transport department, is lobbying for the Congress ticket from KR Pet in Mandya district. Retired police officials have sought Congress tickets from Haveri and Shikaripura as well.
Retired KAS officer Puttaswamy wants to enter the political fray from Aarakalgud and a retired superintending engineer has also thrown his hat from the Congress in Arakalgud of Hassan district. A source said many officials are knocking at the doors of all three political parties and are ready to tender their resignations once the party ticket is confirmed.
Meanwhile, a doctor is seeking a BJP ticket from the T Narasipur constituency, and an excise official wants to contest the Malavalli SC constituency in the Mandya district.
