The BJP announced its third list of ten candidates for the Karnataka Assembly elections on Monday, just hours after Jagadish Shettar left the party to join the Congress. The list includes Hubli-Dharwad Central, the seat represented by Shettar.
With the addition of ten new candidates, the BJP has declared 222 candidates for 224 seats in the state assembly. Mahesh Tenginkai, the BJP’s state general secretary, has been chosen as the party’s candidate for the Hubli-Dharwad (Central) assembly constituency, which was previously held by Shettar, a six-time MLA and former Karnataka chief minister.
A senior BJP leader said that Mahesh Tenginkai is a dedicated party worker and represents the same community as Jagdish Shettar.
“The CEC has shown faith in him and is confident that he will come out victorious,” the leader told ANI.
Another leader said that Tenginkai has handled party responsibilities and is a strong candidate.
“Mahesh Tenginkai has been associated as an office bearer of the Yuva Morcha and has held organisational responsibilities in the state. He is a dedicated party worker and is a strong candidate as he has worked dedicatedly in the region,” he said.
The BJP has dropped Arvind Limbavali from Mahadevapura from the list of ten candidates announced on Monday, but has given a ticket to his wife Manula Aravind Limbavali.
The state’s nomination period for the May 10 assembly elections ends on April 20. The BJP had declared 189 candidates, with the second list consisting of 23 candidates. The results of the assembly elections will be announced on May 13.
