Mysuru, Jun 13: After a setback in the recent Rajya Sabha polls, which saw at least one of its MLAs voting against party candidate, JD(S) on Monday faced another round of dissidence with its MLC requesting voters to back a Congress nominee in the election to Legislative Council from the South Graduates' constituency.

Voting is underway in the biennial election to the Karnataka Legislative Council from two graduates' and an equal number of teachers' constituencies on Monday.

"Voters of all the four districts that come under the constituency (South Graduates') are voting in large numbers in support of Madhu G Madegowda (Congress candidate). Madhu G Madegowda will win this election with a huge margin. His win is 100 per cent certain," JD(S) MLC Marithibbe Gowda said.

Speaking to reporters here, he appealed to voters to vote in favour of Madegowda to ensure his victory.

He, however, did not wish to comment regarding his disgruntlement against JD(S) and its leadership, stating today was a poll day.

In the polls for South Graduates' constituency, Madegowda of Congress is pitted against former MLC M V Ravishankar of the BJP and H K Ramu of JD(S).

Recently, hitting out at the JD(S), Marithibbe Gowda expressed disappointment at the "attitude" of JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda and Legislature Party leader H D Kumaraswamy over the last four years.

He had alleged that the party denied a ticket to one Jayaramu for the election to the Legislative Council from the South Graduates' constituency as he did not have money.

Marithibbe Gowda, who was the Deputy Chairman of Karnataka Legislative Council from 2015 to 2018, is currently MLC from South Teachers' constituency.

During the Rajya Sabha polls held on June 10, despite efforts by JD(S) to keep its numbers intact, the regional party's Kolar MLA K Srinivas Gowda cast his vote for the Congress candidate defying the party's diktat, while Gubbi MLA S R Srinivas allegedly put a blank ballot paper into the box, which left JD(S) legislature party leader H D Kumaraswamy fuming at his colleagues.

While Gowda accepted he voted for the Congress candidate stating that he did so since he "loved" the party, Srinivas, however, rejected Kumaraswamy's claim and insisted he voted for his party's pick. There were also reports that Srinivas had voted in favour of BJP's Lehar Singh Siroya, when votes were counted.

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Raichur: The priest of the Ambabhavani Temple in Athkur village has been accused of stopping Dalit youngsters from entering the temple for a ritual related the Navaratri festival, although related parties, including the priest and Dalit leaders of the village, have denied knowledge about the incident.

A video of the youngsters, belonging to the Madiga community, who wanted to wear the ritual garlands for the festive period, being denied entry into the temple and the priest handing them the garlands keeping them outside the threshold has gone viral on social media platforms.

Yapaladinni Police officers, however, have said no police complaint about the matter has been filed so far. In addition, Dalit leaders in Athkur have said no such incident has occurred in the village, but the police officers are conducting an inquiry since youngsters have alleged that they were denied entry into the temple.

The temple priest has also refuted the charges against him, clarifying that action will be taken if a complaint is filed.