BJP releases 2nd list of 23 candidates

The BJP on Wednesday released its second list of 23 candidates for the Karnataka Assembly election to be held on May 10. The party had announced the names of candidates for 189 seats in the 224-member Assembly yesterday.
Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai had earlier said that the party would release the list in two phases. But 12 seats are yet to be named and a third list is expected soon. Former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar’s name is missing from the second list. The list does not mention the BJP candidate for the Hubballi seat from where the current BJP MLA Jagadish Shettar wants to contest again. There are two women in the list of 23 candidates, including Ashwini Sampangi, who will contest from Kolar Gold Field. V Somanna, who is contesting against Congress leader and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Varuna, had sought a ticket for his son from Gubbi. But the party has fielded SD Dileep Kumar from the Gubbi constituency. Byndoor MLA Sukumar Shetty has been dropped and Gururaj Gantihole will be contesting from the seat. BJP MLA Madal Virupakshappa, who was arrested on corruption charges, has been left out from Channagiri.
Davanagere North MLA Ravindranath and Haveri MLA Nehru Olekar have also been dropped in favour of Lokikere Nagaraj and Gavisiddappa Dyamannavar respectively. Filing of nominations will begin on April 13 and continue till April 20.