Karnataka BJP shortlists names for Lok Sabha polls; central committee to take final call

Bengaluru: The Karnataka BJP core committee has shortlisted the candidates from the state for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. As expected, most of the sitting MPs have retained their seats. The list will be forwarded to the party’s central election committee for its final approval.

The state committee is headed by BS Yeddyurappa. The meeting to shortlist the names of candidates was attended by other seniors including P Muralidhar Rao, state in-charge, MPs and MLAs from the state.

The leaders would be meeting BJP national president Amit Shah on the issue.

However, as regards Mandya, the BJP has kept its options open. The decision to field a candidate from Mandya will be based on Sumalatha Ambareesh’s decision to contest or not. She is expected to make her decision public on Monday.

As regards Ballari, Venkatesh Prasad, brother of Nagendra (rebel Congressman) is likely to get the nod, based on his entry into the party. Similar is the case with A Manju (Hassan), who in all probability will join the BJP. In Bangalore Rural, where DK Shivakumar’s younger brother DK Suresh is the sitting MP from the Congress, the BJP is betting its money on two candidates namely CP Yogeshwar and Ashwathnarayan.

After deliberations with the state unit, the central committee itself would be making the formal announcement.