The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday released its second list of 23 candidates for the upcoming Karnataka Assembly election. The saffron party has so far announced candidates on 212 out of the 224 seats.
Former chief minister Jagadish Shettar's name was missing from the list. Earlier in the day, Shettar met BJP president JP Nadda and staked his claim to contest from his Hubli-Dharwad Central constituency. BJP is yet to name its candidate from the seat.
Nagaraja Chabbi, a Congress leader who recently joined BJP, has been fielded from Kalghatgi.
The BJP denied tickets to four sitting MLAs. Nehru Olekar, sitting MLA from Haveri, was dropped and was replaced by Gavi Siddappa. Shiv Kumar will contest from Channagiri seat, with sitting MLA Madal Virupakshappa denied a ticket.
Byndoor sitting MLA Sukumar Shetty has been denied a ticket and replaced by Gururaj Gantihole. Mudigere sitting MLA MP Kumarswamy has also failed to make it to the list. Deepak Doddaiah has been chosen for the seat.
There are two women in the second list of 23 candidates -- Lalitha Anapur, fielded from Gurmitkal, and Ashwini Sampangi from Kolar Gold Field.
Filing of nominations will begin on April 13 and continue till April 20.
On Tuesday, BJP announced candidates on 189 seats with 52 fresh faces that included doctors, lawyers, and retired bureaucrats. At least nine legislators have not been given a ticket. The announcement led to heartburn among some senior leaders, who openly expressed their displeasure.
Former deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka Laxman Savadi resigned as a member of the Legislative Council and the primary membership of the BJP after the party denied him a ticket from the Athani constituency.
Minister and six-time MLA S Angara from Sullia constituency announced his decision to quit politics after failing to get a ticket again.
Udupi MLA Raghupati Bhat, who also did not find his name in the first list, said he was deeply pained by the treatment meted out to him by the party.
BJP MLC R Shankar, who was an aspirant for Ranebennur Assembly seat, resigned as legislator after the party ignored his request.