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NEW DELHI: After several days of intense deliberations, the BJP on Tuesday finally released its first list of candidates for the upcoming Karnataka assembly elections. “Young leadership has been given preference in selection of the candidates,” said union minister Dharmendra Pradhan, poll incharge for the state.
Senior BJP leader Arun Singh said that in the list of 189 candidates, there are 52 new faces as the party believes in giving the younger generation a say in governance.
“Besides the new faces, 32 candidates are from OBC, 30 from SC and 16 from ST. There are also 8 women in the first list,” said Singh.
Seats to watch
The BJP has fielded chief minister Basavaraj Bommai from his traditional Shiggaon seat for Karnataka assembly polls.
BY Vijayendra, son of former Karnataka CM and BJP leader BS Yediyurappa, will contest from the Shikaripura seat.
BJP national general secretary C T Ravi will contest from his traditional Chikmagalur seat.
State minister R Ashoka to contest from 2 seats: Padmanabhanagar and Kanakapura. Congress chief D K Shivakumar will be fighting from Kanakapura.
Karnataka minister V Somanna to contest against ex-CM Siddaramaiah of Congress in Varuna. Somanna will also fight from Chamarajanagar.
State health minister Dr Sudhakar K will contest from Chikkaballapur seat; state minister Dr Ashwathnarayan CN to contest from Malleshwaram seat.
Tough decisions taken: Bommai
Before the list was announced, Bommai asserted that the party was taking “tough” decisions to create a new system, an apparent reference to the candidate selection exercise, and expressed confidence that “pro-incumbency” sentiments will help it beat any challenge from the Congress and retain power.
He added that the second and final list will be announced in the coming days.
The BJP, aiming to return to power in Karnataka with absolute majority, has set a target of winning at least 150 of the total 224 seats in the assembly.
After a meeting of the BJP Central Election Committee held on April 9, Bommai said party president J P Nadda held a second round of deliberations with state leaders and finalised the probable names taking into account their personal details and political calculations.
Referring to senior party leader K S Eshwarappa’s decision to not contest the elections, Bommai said it reflects the BJP’s culture of veterans making way for the younger lot and took a swipe at the Congress for giving its ticket to the 91-year-old Shamanur Shivashankarappa.
“Our leadership and values are different. To create a new system, we are taking tough decisions,” he said.
Opting out of the poll was Eshwarappa’s personal decision, he added.
Over reports that state party leader Laxman Savadi may cross over to the Congress, he noted that Savadi wants to contest from the Athani constituency. “We have asked him not to take extreme steps,” he said.
The filing of nominations will begin from April 13. The state is scheduled to go to the polls on May 10 and the results will be declared on May 13.
Meanwhile, the Congress has so far announced a total of 166 candidates, including Karnataka Sarvodaya Party’s Darshan Puttannaiah for whom it has extended support in Melukote constituency, in two lists.
The JD(S) has announced one list of 93 candidates.
Full list of candidates:
Senior BJP leader Arun Singh said that in the list of 189 candidates, there are 52 new faces as the party believes in giving the younger generation a say in governance.
“Besides the new faces, 32 candidates are from OBC, 30 from SC and 16 from ST. There are also 8 women in the first list,” said Singh.
Seats to watch
The BJP has fielded chief minister Basavaraj Bommai from his traditional Shiggaon seat for Karnataka assembly polls.
BY Vijayendra, son of former Karnataka CM and BJP leader BS Yediyurappa, will contest from the Shikaripura seat.
BJP national general secretary C T Ravi will contest from his traditional Chikmagalur seat.
State minister R Ashoka to contest from 2 seats: Padmanabhanagar and Kanakapura. Congress chief D K Shivakumar will be fighting from Kanakapura.
Karnataka minister V Somanna to contest against ex-CM Siddaramaiah of Congress in Varuna. Somanna will also fight from Chamarajanagar.
State health minister Dr Sudhakar K will contest from Chikkaballapur seat; state minister Dr Ashwathnarayan CN to contest from Malleshwaram seat.
Tough decisions taken: Bommai
Before the list was announced, Bommai asserted that the party was taking “tough” decisions to create a new system, an apparent reference to the candidate selection exercise, and expressed confidence that “pro-incumbency” sentiments will help it beat any challenge from the Congress and retain power.
He added that the second and final list will be announced in the coming days.
The BJP, aiming to return to power in Karnataka with absolute majority, has set a target of winning at least 150 of the total 224 seats in the assembly.
After a meeting of the BJP Central Election Committee held on April 9, Bommai said party president J P Nadda held a second round of deliberations with state leaders and finalised the probable names taking into account their personal details and political calculations.
Referring to senior party leader K S Eshwarappa’s decision to not contest the elections, Bommai said it reflects the BJP’s culture of veterans making way for the younger lot and took a swipe at the Congress for giving its ticket to the 91-year-old Shamanur Shivashankarappa.
“Our leadership and values are different. To create a new system, we are taking tough decisions,” he said.
Opting out of the poll was Eshwarappa’s personal decision, he added.
Over reports that state party leader Laxman Savadi may cross over to the Congress, he noted that Savadi wants to contest from the Athani constituency. “We have asked him not to take extreme steps,” he said.
The filing of nominations will begin from April 13. The state is scheduled to go to the polls on May 10 and the results will be declared on May 13.
Meanwhile, the Congress has so far announced a total of 166 candidates, including Karnataka Sarvodaya Party’s Darshan Puttannaiah for whom it has extended support in Melukote constituency, in two lists.
The JD(S) has announced one list of 93 candidates.
Full list of candidates:
(With inputs from agencies)
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