Karnataka Congress has asked all aspirants to apply for a ticket to the upcoming elections and pay a fee for the same.

Addressing the press, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president D K Shivakumar said, “The party is gearing up for the coming elections and we are inviting applications from aspirants for the same”.

All willing to apply can obtain the application and submit the same between 5 November to 15 November.

“One must pay Rs 5,000 for the application. General category applicants will have to furbish a Demand-Draft (DD) of Rs 2 Lakh and provide details of their Congress party membership. Those belonging to SC/ST category will have a 50 per cent concession and have to pay Rs 1 Lakh,” said Shivakumar. 

The DD is being taken in the name of the party president for the building fund and will have to be attached to the application and this applies to sitting Members of Legislative Assembly (MLA) too, he added.

“This applies to all including me. If I seek to contest , I will have to apply too. And this is to emphasize that the party is above persons,” he emphasized.

Speaking of the membership campaign of the party, he said online membership process has been opened again.

“A few leaders who wish to join the Congress too are in touch with me and I do not seek to disclose the names as of now," he added.

"Under the presidentship of Mallikarjun Kharge and the leadership of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, we are extending an open invitation to all those who are willing to accept the values of the Congress party,” said Shivakumar, adding that the party is providing an opportunity for people to ‘unconditionally join the Congress’.