Tremors rattle party as BJP puts out 1st list of 189 candidates

NT Correspondent

New Delhi/ Bengaluru:

The ruling BJP in Kar nataka after much delay, finally announced its first list of 189 candidates for the May 10 Assembly polls in the state inducting 52 new faces. The biggest shock of the day was the omission of former CM and Lingayat strongman Jagadish Shettar who was told to step aside for fresh faces with the HubballiDharwad MLA however defiant on entering the electoral race.

There were other surprises in store too with Bengaluru strongman and minister R Ashok set to contest from two seats - Padmanabha Nagar and also Kanakapura where he will be pitted against KPCC President DK Shivakumar in a battle of Vokkaliga giants. Another minister, V Somanna will take on former CM and opposition leader in the Assembly Siddaramaiah in Varuna besides contesting from Chamarajnagar.

Former CM BS Yediyurappa who has opted out of the electoral race, has ensured that his son BY Vijayendra landed the ticket for Shikaripura - a seat he has represented several times . Former Deputy CM Laxman Savadi has been denied the ticket for Athani constituency which has been given to his rival, Mahesh Kumathalli. There were no big surprises in the 28 Assembly seats in Bengaluru with most of the sitting MLAs being renominated inwilludi n g Suresh Kumar from Rajajinagar.

Former Bengaluru city police commissioner Bhaskar Rao has been chosen for Chamarajpet where he will take on the popular Congress MLA Zameer Ahmed Khan. In Chennapatna, CP Yogeshwar will fight former CM and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy