Bhatkal: The candidates from major political parties and also those contesting as independents filed their nominations at the respective RO (returning officer) office in Bhatkal on Monday.

A total of 3 candidates, including sitting MLA Mankal Vaidya filed their papers. The nomination filing process passed off smoothly without much fanfare. The assistant commissioner’s office at Anjumanabd turned into a fortress with CRPF jawans and armed police guarding them. CRPF jawans were deployed at the RO office to check any untoward incidents. However, the candidates from Congress and BJP came to the RO office with only a handful of supporters and filed their nomination papers.

Sitting MLA Mankal Vaidya, who is contesting on Congress ticket from Bhatkal-Honnavar constituency filed his paper at the AC office at around 11:00 am. He was accompanied by his supporters. Mankal Vaidya is the one who won as an independnet candidate in 2013 Assembly election with 37,319  votes.

Just as BJP Sunil Naik and his supporters arrived, Congress candidate Mankal Vaidya was leaving the venue, where he did not come with supporters. The supporters of the BJP started shouting slogans and tension prevailed for a few minutes. 

BJP candidate Sunil Naik too filed his papers at the RO office, which was accompanied by Union Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and the Member of Parliament for Uttara Kannada constituency, Anant Kumar Hegde. A public meeting was held at public chabutra, in the morning before filing the nomination. Hundreds of people attended the meeting and Padyatra was held where he reached the RO office by 11.30 am.

Another candidate Rajesh Naik of Honnavar contesting Independent too filed papers for the same constituency.

The last date for filing nominations is Tuesday. Scrutiny of nomination papers will be done on Wednesday, and the last date for withdrawal of nomination is Friday.