Yankappa, an independent candidate from the Yadgir constituency, filed his nomination papers for the Karnataka Assembly elections and paid the deposit money of Rs 10000 entirely in Rupee 1 coins. The candidate collected the entire amount from people across the constituency as reported by PTI.

According to media reports, Yankappa stated that he will dedicate his life to the people of his community and villagers. He said he carried posters of Swami Vivekananda's ideologies to the returning officer says Yankappa.

The state will go to polls on May 10 and the votes will be counted on May 13. The term of the current Karnataka Legislative Assembly would end on May 24, 2023.

Meanwhile, the BJP is gearing up for campaigning ahead of the polls. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP President J P Nadda, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and a strong team of Union Ministers figure in the 40-something list of the party's star campaigners.

In addition to Adityanath, Madhya Pradesh and Assam Chief Ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Himanta Biswa Sarma, respectively, and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadvavis have been included.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Karnataka BJP strongman B S Yediyurappa, former Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, some Karnataka ministers and state party leaders also figure in the list.

The ruling BJP in Karnataka is pulling out all the stops to retain the state where it is pitted against opposition Congress and the JD(S) in the May 10 elections. It has chosen to field heavyweights against top Congress leaders Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar in the May 10 Karnataka Assembly elections.

The filing of nominations began on April 13 and the last day for filing papers is April 20.

The BJP, aiming to return to power in Karnataka with an absolute majority, has set a target of winning at least 150 of the total 224 seats in the Assembly.