BJP on Sunday released the list of first 72 candidates of the party who are going to contest the Karnataka Elections 2018. These assembly elections will be held on May 12 for 224 seats across the state while the vote counting will take place on May 15. The names were decided in a committee meeting at party’s head office in New Delhi.
First list of 72 BJP candidates for ensuing general election to the legislative assembly of Karnataka 2018 finalised by BJP Central Election Committee. pic.twitter.com/0ZLS7WHWF2
— BJP (@BJP4India) April 8, 2018
Apart from BJP President Amit Shah, the meet was also attended by PM Modi, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, and Home Minister Rajnath Singh, among other leaders. Out of these 72 candidates, 48 leaders are the sitting or outgoing legislators from Karnataka’s northern, central, and southern regions. These also include candidates from 28 assembly constituencies of Bengaluru.
The prominent nominees in the list include names like BS Yeddyurappa (Shikariapura), KS Eshwarappa (Shivamogga), Jagadish Shettar (Hubli Dharwad Central), Basavaraj Bommai (Shiggaon), Udasi (Hangal), K.V. Hegde (Sirs), B. Sriramulu (Molakalmuru). Talking about female candidates, only 3 women namely Sashikala Jolle, Roopali Naik, and Poornima Srinivas are included in the list of 72 nominees.
Lately, several leaders from BJP as well as Congress including PM Modi, BJP Chief Amit Shah, and Congress President Rahul Gandhi have been visiting the state so as to review the situation. The third player in the contest is HD Deve Gowda from JD (S), the only possible threat to BJP and Congress in the state.
Interestingly, these elections are quite crucial for both BJP and Congress. On one hand, BJP is seeking to strengthen its grip over the southern parts of India while on the other hand; Congress can’t afford to lose as Karnataka is one of the few states where it currently reigns.
