BJP rebel Eshwarappa slams state party prez on whip threat
Bengaluru: A day after Karnataka BJP President B Y Vijayendra warned about the party cracking the whip against him, rebel leader K S Eshwarappa, who has decided to contest as an independent in Shimoga Lok Sabha segment, on Tuesday said he is independent and no more with the party to face such disciplinary action. Eshwarappa, Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Rameshwaram Cafe blast accused in touch with with ISIS operatives?
Bengaluru: The Rameshwaram Cafe blast case has taken a significant turn with the arrest of Musavir Hussain Shajeeb and Abdul Mateen Ahmed Taha, who are suspected to have ties with the terrorist organisation ISIS. Sources within the investigating agency revealed that Taha and Musavir, hailing from Tirthahalli in Shimoga district, are believed to have been Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Shivamogga braces for an epic three-way clash
SHIVAMOGGA: Children of two former chief ministers have thrown their hat in the ring in the Shivamogga Lok Sabha constituency and if BJP rebel and former deputy chief minister K S Eshwarappa, who is considering contesting as an independent, follows through, it will be a three-way fight in the constituency. Historically, Shivamogga district has dominated state politics, having produced four chief ministers and one deputy chief minister. This time, the Shivamogga (Shimoga) Lok Sabha constituency is witnessing a fierce fight between sitting MP and BJP candidate BY Raghavendra and Congress candidate Geetha Shivarajkumar. If Eshwarappa remains in the arena, the clash is expected to be intense in the constituency. Raghavendra is the son of former CM B S Yediyurappa and elder brother of BJP state president BY Vijayendra. Geetha is the daughter of former CM late S Bangarappa and sister of Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa. She is also the wife of Sandalwood superstar Shivarajkumar. Till now, Eshwarappa is determined to contest the election to fight the family politics of the Yediyurappa clan which, according to him, is responsible for the denial of a ticket to his son KE Kantesh from the Haveri constituency. The Lok Sabha constituency has seven Assembly segments in Shivamogga district and one of Udupi district. In the last Assembly elections, JDS won Shimoga Rural, Congress Bhadravathi, Sorab and Sagar, while BJP bagged Shimoga, Thirthahalli and Shikaripura. BJP also won in Byndoor. It has 17,29,901 voters, including 8,52,107 male, 8,77,761 female and 33 third-gender. There is significant presence of SC/STs, Lingayats, Deevaru (Ediga) and Muslims. Shivamogga has seen varied political representation, with Congress and BJP having won a majority of times. However, BJP has been continuously winning since 2004. Bangarappa senior himself won on a BJP ticket in 2004. It is also said that Bangarappa, an influential OBC leader, was the key to giving a new lease of life to BJP which was trying to establish a base in Karnataka. He also won in 1996 on a Karnataka Vikas Party ticket, in 1999 on a Congress ticket and in the 2005 by-election on a Samajwadi Party ticket. The 2009 Lok Sabha election was a direct fight between Bangarappa and Yediyurappa, though the latters son Raghavendra was the candidate. Bangarappa, who was suffering from ill-health and could not campaign effectively, was defeated by 52,893 votes. In the 2014 election, Geetha contested on a JDS ticket but came third, while Yediyurappa, riding the Modi wave, won with a thumping margin of 3.63 lakh votes against Congress Manjunath Bhandary. BJPs Raghavendra defeated Madhu Bangarappa in the 2018 Lok Sabha by-election and in the 2019 general election. The rivalry between these two families has been a defining feature of the political landscape in Shivamogga with both families having deep roots and influence in the regions politics. While Raghavendra is a Lingayat, Geetha belongs to the Ediga community, while Eshwarappa is from the Kuruba (OBC) community. The constituency faces several key issues. There have been disturbances between different communities in the past, highlighting the need for improved communal harmony. The arrest of terror operatives has raised security concerns. As a region connected with the Western Ghats, there are ongoing discussions about balancing development with environmental conservation. The need for better education facilities and job opportunities is a recurring theme as the constituency works towards economic growth and development. The constituency will go to the polls on May 7.
Failing to get Amit Shah audience, Karnataka neta Eshwarappa says will fight as independent
Eshwarappa, BJP leader, contests solo from Shimoga receiving party's indirect backing. Shah's meeting refusal seen as approval.
Political theatre: Smriti Irani to campaign for Dakshina Kannada candidate
Mangaluru: Union Minister Smriti Irani will campaign for Dakshina Kannada BJP candidate Capt Brijesh Chowta on Friday. BJP district president Satish Kumpala told reporters here on Tuesday that Capt Chowta will file his nomination papers at 11 am on Thursday. He will be accompanied by Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, BJP leader Sunil Kumar, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, Udupi-Chikkamagaluru BJP candidate Kota Srinivas Poojary and others, he said adding that they have also requested Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai to also attend, but this is yet to be confirmed. On BJP leader Sathyajit Suratkal openly extending his support to Congress candidates in Dakshina Kannada and Shimoga LS seats, Kumpala said he will discuss the matter with the senior leadership and take a call. Asked whether Suratkals statement will have any impact on the election, he expressed confidence that the BJP will continue to get the support of all. He said the first round of campaigning in nine mandalas, 61 Mahashakthi Kendras and 495 Shakthi Kendras have been completed so far. The booth-level campaign will begin from Saturday. The Maha Abhiyan or door-to-door campaign will start from April 21, he added. Priyanka Jarkiholi kickstarts campaign Belagavi : Campaigning by the Congress in Chikkodi Lok Sabha constituency picked up pace with party candidate Priyanka Jarkiholi taking up huge a roadshow at Raibag near Chikkodi. The show which began at Ambedkar Circle passed through several parts of the town. Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar and PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi also joined hundreds of party workers in the show. Addressing the people, Satish said the Congress victory largely depended on the development plank as the party never went to the polls on religion and caste factors. He denied speculations in the media that the victory of parties was based on the crucial Lingayat votes in Chikkodi constituency and said Congress, too, has the support of Lingayats and it also has several prominent Lingayat leaders in the party. He said the Congress is going to win the seat with the support of people from all sections of society. As per surveys, he said the winning chances of the Congress and BJP were 50-50.
Shah summons Eshwarappa to Delhi to quell dissidence
Amit Shah intervened in Karnataka BJP rift, summoning Eshwarappa to Delhi to address discord. Eshwarappa maintains independent Shimoga candidacy, citing Yediyurappa family's marginalization of key party members.
Karnataka: BJP's Bommai accuses Congress of 'double standards' on Mekedatu row, asks party to 'come out of alliance' with DMK Former Karnataka Chief Minister and BJP's candidate from Haveri-Gadag Lok Sabha constituency, Basavaraj Bommai, accused the ruling Congress party on Friday of 'double standards' regarding the Mekedatu Dam issue. Speaking to reporters in Hubbali on Friday, Bommai said the Congress, which was agitating and demanding the implementation of the said project, has now joined hands with the DMK, which is opposing the project and he further said the grand old party must sever its ties with the Tamil Nadu-based political party. The Mekedatu Dam is a multi-purpose (drinking water and power) project involving the construction of a balancing reservoir near Kanakapura in Karnataka's Ramanagara district. The dam, once completed, is expected to supply over 4 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) of water to Bengaluru city for drinking purposes, which is currently facing a severe water crisis. Earlier on Wednesday, the Congress party's alliance partner, the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu, unveiled its election manifesto, promising to stall the construction of the balancing reservoir project. Responding to senior BJP leader KS Eshwarappa's remarks, Bommai said the party high command will reach out to the Shivamogga leader and sort out the issue. He is a senior leader of the party and has played an important role in building the party in Karnataka. Such incidents would have hurt him. The top brass would talk to the miffed leaders like Eshwarappa, DV Sadananda Gowda and Karadi Sanganna and resolve everything, Bommai said. Eashrappa had hit out at party veteran BS Yediyurappa earlier after Bommai was named the BJP's Lok Sabha pick from Haveri, claiming that he was promised that his son would be on the ticket to contest the seat. The BJP also named BS Yediyurappa's son BY Raghvendra from Shimoga and V Sommana from Tumkuru. Eshwarappa turned on his party following the announcement, saying, BS Yediyurappa had promised that he would give the ticket to (his son) KE Kantesh from Haveri. So I sent Kantesh there to campaign. But today, my son didn't get the ticket and Yediyurappa's son did. Speaking at a public meeting earlier, Eshwarappa said that he will contest independently and win the elections even if Prime Minister Narendra Modi comes and attempts to change his mind. The Lok Sabha Elections 2024 will be held in seven phases starting on April 19. Karnataka will vote in two phases on April 26 and May 7. Counting of votes on June 4. (ANI)
BJP seeks ban on actor Shivarajkumar''s movies, ads, & billboards until end of LS polls
BJP urges EC to ban Shivarajkumar's Congress campaign ads to ensure fairness in elections. Geetha is contesting from Shimoga. Raghu highlights the need to prevent undue influence while Meena confirms reviewing the request.
India holds a unique place in the world in terms of natural beauty. Innumerable tourists from Arab countries and Western countries come to visit India. There are many great places to visit in India. High mountains, lush green plains and beautiful waterfalls, wide flowing rivers, sandy plains, Thar Desert, Rann of Kutch etc. attract everyone. There are many beautiful waterfalls in India that people come from far and wide to see. There is no fixed time to see these waterfalls. You can see these any time of the year, but it is more thrilling to see these waterfalls during the rainy days. These days, people in most parts of the country are troubled by the scorching sun and intense heat. Due to continuously rising mercury, people's condition is becoming miserable. In such a situation, now people are eagerly waiting for the monsoon. It is expected that the monsoon will become fully active by the end of June. The rainy season is the favorite season of many people. Seeing the waterfalls falling from a height during the rainy season gives its unique pleasure. Today we are going to tell our readers about some such waterfalls that you would like to see sometime or other. Dhuandhar Waterfall There are many places worth visiting in Madhya Pradesh, the state called the heart of India. The Dhuandhar Waterfall present here is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the country. Here the Narmada river falling from a height looks exactly like smoke. You will feel the coolness of the water falling from the waterfall from a distance. You can also visit Bhedaghat near this waterfall, the marble rocks will fascinate you. Naneghat Waterfall Naneghat Waterfall located in Maharashtra is one of the most famous waterfalls in the world. The beauty of this place makes everyone crazy about it. The specialty of this waterfall is that it moves opposite to the flow of wind. You should see the beautiful view of this waterfall falling amidst beautiful valleys once. Kempty Waterfall If you live in or around Delhi, then Kempty Waterfall will prove to be a great destination for you. Situated at a height of about 4500 feet above sea level, this waterfall will prove to be a perfect travel destination for monsoon lovers. Dudhsagar Waterfall If you are planning to visit Goa in the rainy season, then definitely visit Dudhsagar Waterfall located nearby. Situated at a height of 1017 feet, this waterfall flows from the Mandovi River of Goa. The beautiful view here will win your heart during the rainy season. Jog Waterfall Jog Waterfall is considered to be the second-highest waterfall in India. Located on the border of Shimoga and Uttara Kannada, this waterfall flows through the forests. If you are a nature lover and you like hiking along with swimming, then this place will prove to be perfect for you. Shivana Samudra Waterfall Located in the state of Karnataka and about 130 km from Bangalore, Shivanasamudra Falls is easily accessible by road. This waterfall is situated on the banks of river Kaveri and the river divides and falls in two different places Gaganchukki and Bharchukki. It is 100 km from Mysore. It drops water from a height of about 98 meters. It is used for hydroelectric power generation. The hydropower plant established on it is the first hydropower plant in Asia, which was established in 1902. Shivanasamudra The total distance from Bengaluru to Shivanasamudra is 138 kilometers. Kollegal is the nearest town, which is well connected by roads and has regular buses Which run from Bengaluru to Shivanasamudra. This fall presents a picturesque view and you can enjoy holidays here. Bhambavli Waterfall Bhambawali Waterfall is located at an altitude of 1840 feet near the Sahyadri Hills in Satara, Western Maharashtra. This is the highest falling waterfall in India. This waterfall originates from the Urmodi River. This waterfall also has religious importance. Chitrakote Waterfall The widest waterfall in Asia and the largest waterfall in India, Chitrakote Falls is also known as the Niagara Falls of India. Located in Chhattisgarh, this waterfall originates from the Indravati River in Bastar district. Here you can also visit the ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva which is situated near this waterfall. Talakona Falls With a height of 270 feet, Talakona Falls is the highest waterfall in Andhra Pradesh. It is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the country and is situated amidst forests and wildlife. It is located within the Sri Venkateswara National Park in Chittoor. It is also believed that the water of this spring has medicinal value as there are many medicinal herbs around this area. Mekedatu Water Fall Located in Kanakapura district, 100 km from Bangalore, this is a very beautiful waterfall that is formed by the meeting of two rivers, the water of this waterfall flows through a deep valley about 3.5 km downstream. Mekayadu means goat's jump. There is a story about it that, a long time ago a tiger was chasing a goat. During this time, the goat jumped from this hill to save its life, after which the hoof marks of the goat can be seen here even today. This hill is very slippery. Be careful if you are climbing a hill. Hogankal Falls Hogankal Falls is the Niagara Falls of Karnataka which is located in Dharmapuri district of Tamil Nadu. Its distance from Bangalore is about 180 kilometers. A crowd of tourists can be seen here during monsoon. It is said about this waterfall that if the water flow is high then avoid boating. Muthala Maduwa Falls Muthala Maduwa Falls is located near Anekal. It is located at a distance of 40 km from Bangalore. It is known as the Valley of Pearls. The waterfall here is smaller than other places, yet crowds of tourists can be seen here. Picnic and boating can be enjoyed here with friends during weekends. (PC: Lifeberrys)
Seat-sharing arrangement issue with JD(S) will be resolved amicably, says State BJP chief
Seat-sharing arrangement issue with JD(S) will be resolved amicably, says State BJP chief With JD(S) indicating its unhappiness over the seat sharing issue for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, Karnataka BJP President B Y Vijayendra on Tuesday said he has spoken to its leadership after consulting his party's high command, and expressed confidence that the matter would be resolved amicably. He said BJP and JD(S) leadership are discussing ''everything and there will be a happy ending.'' ''Last night I had a telephonic discussion with our national leaders, after that I spoke to former Prime Minister (H D Deve Gowda over phone, and have also shared information with H D Kumaraswamy this morning,'' Vijayendra said. Speaking to reporters here, he said he is confident that everything will be fine, and the national leadership will make a decision that is satisfactory to the JD(S). Indicating that JD(S) is unhappy over the seat sharing issue, its state President H D Kumaraswamy on Monday said he has faith that the regional party will get three to four seats, amid reports that the saffron party may cede it only two. The former Chief Minister also said his party leaders have asked him to communicate to the BJP leadership about the need to treat the JD(S) ''respectfully'' and make them understand its strength in at least 18 Lok Sabha segments. On whether JD(S) will contest in three seats, Vijayendra said the issue is still under discussion. ''How can I say anything?'' ''If there are any minor issues, for everything there will be a happy ending, and BJP-JD(S)' NDA alliance will continue successfully,'' he said. JD(S) joined the NDA last September and has forged an electoral alliance with the BJP. The regional party is expected to contest in three seats -- Mandya, Hassan and Kolar -- and as per agreement between both parties, noted cardiac surgeon, and Deve Gowda's son-in-law Dr C N Manjunath has been fielded from Bangalore Rural on a BJP ticket. However, according to recent reports, BJP is not ready to cede Kolar seat to JD(S), which has irked the regional outfit. On Congress sending feelers to BJP leader and former Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, Vijayendra said, he is confident that everything will be fine and there is no question of him crossing over and he will remain in BJP. Gowda is upset over being denied ticket to recontest from Bangalore North Lok Sabha seat. Asked about senior party leader K S Eshwarappa who has raised a banner of rebellion and is contesting as an independent from Shimoga Lok Sabha seat, Vijayendra said, ''he is a senior leader, certain wrong information has gone to him and he is reacting to it, and I'm confident that everything will be fine, once he understands the truth.''
PM Modi's South India Tour | Can BJP Crack The South Code? | Lok Sabha Elections 2024 | News18
PM Modi's South India Tour | Can BJP Crack The South Code? | Lok Sabha Elections 2024 | News18Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on a crucial leg of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA)s Lok Sabha poll campaign today, March 18, with scheduled public rallies and a roadshow in Karnatakas Shivamogga district and Tamil Nadus Coimbatore, respectively.First Stop: Karnatakas Shivamogga DistrictIn Shivamogga, PM Modi will address a public meeting at the Allama Prabhu ground (Freedom Park), marking his support for BJP candidates ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The district, known as the home turf of BJP stalwart Yediyurappa, holds strategic importance for the saffron party. BJP candidate BY Raghavendra, Yediyurappas elder son, is contesting from the Shimoga constituency, facing competition from former deputy CM K S Eshwarappa, who has declared his intention to contest as an independent candidate. The BJP aims to replicate its 2019 electoral success, where it won 25 out of 28 seats in Karnataka. Party leaders express confidence in securing victories across all 28 seats this year.
Senior BJP leader Eshwarappa skips PM Modi's rally, in embarrassment to party ahead of LS polls
Eshwarappa has announced he will contest as an independent candidate from Shimoga (Shivamogga) in the coming Lok Sabha polls, blaming veteran BJP leader B S Yediyurappa and his son B Y Vijayendra, who is state BJP President, for his son K E Kantesh being denied ticket.
PM Modi to address public meeting in Shivamogga on Monday
PM Modi to address public meeting in Shivamogga on Monday Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday will address a public meeting at Shivamogga, the home turf of former Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa. This will be his second such meeting in Karnataka since the announcement of Lok Sabha election dates. The first was on Saturday at Kalaburagi, the home turf of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. BJP is expecting a huge turnout at the Allama Prabhu ground (Freedom Park) for the meet in the home district of Yediyurappa, who is a member of the party's all important Parliamentary board. Yediyurappa's elder son B Y Raghavendra is the BJP candidate for the Shimoga Lok Sabha constituency, where former deputy chief minister K S Eshwarappa has announced he will contest as an independent candidate as he is upset over the denial of ticket to his son K E Kantesh to contest from Haveri LS constituency. Eshwarappa has even announced that he will skip Modi's public meeting. The disgruntled leader had earlier stated that the Prime Minister ''resides in his heart''. BJP state chief B Y Vijayendra, who is Yediyurappa's second son and Shikaripura MLA, visited Allama Prabhu ground along with senior party functionaries to supervise the preparations and gave necessary directions to ensure that the meeting goes smoothly. The saffron party is aiming to better its 2019 performance, where it won 25 of the 28 seats, in 2024 as well. In 2019, Congress and JD(S) had won one seat each, while a BJP-backed independent Sumalatha Ambareesh had clinched one. Party leaders have expressed confidence that the BJP would win all 28 seats in Karnataka this time.
PM Modi to address second public meeting in Karnataka in the run up to LS election
PM Modi to address second public meeting in Karnataka in the run up to LS election Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a public meeting for the Lok Sabha elections in Shivamogga on Monday, the BJP state unit said on Sunday. This comes two days after his first election meeting in Karnataka was held in Kalaburagi, the home turf of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. The party is expecting a turnout of 2.5 lakh people at the Allama Prabhu ground (Freedom Park). The second public meeting in Karnataka for the 2024 Lok Sabha election is happening in the home district of BJP stalwart Yediyurappa. His elder son B Y Raghavendra is BJP's candidate for the Shimoga Lok Sabha constituency, where party rebel and former deputy chief minister K S Eshwarappa says he will constest as an independent candidate. BJP state chief B Y Vijayendra, who is former chief minister B S Yediyurappas second son, visited Allama Prabhu ground along with senior party functionaries to oversee the preparations and gave necessary directions to ensure that the meeting goes well. The saffron party is aiming at repeating its 2019 performance in 2024 as well. The party had won 25 out of 28 seats in 2019, while the Congress and the JD(S) had to settle for just one seat each. Party leaders have expressed confidence that the BJP would win all 28 seats in Karnataka this time.
Modi begins South push with rallies, road show
Narendra Modi intensifies South India campaign for BJP's 370-seat goal, addressing rallies in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Plans NDA rally with N Chandrababu Naidu in Palnadu. Visits lined up for Salem, Coimbatore, Pathanamthitta, Shimoga, Gulbarga, and Guntur.
Karnataka BJP Leader KS Eshwarappa Says Will Contest As Independent Candidate
Senior BJP leader KS Eshwarappa on Friday announced that he will contest as an independent candidate from the Shimoga seat in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
Revolt in Karnataka BJP as Eshwarappa to contest as independent
Shivamogga: Senior BJP leader K S Eshwarappa on Friday announced that he will contest as an independent candidate from the Shimoga seat in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, blaming party veteran and former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa for his son K E Kantesh being denied a ticket for the Haveri constituency. Yediyurappas son and Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Dhule MP Subhash Bhamre thanks PM Modi after BJP reconsiders him for Lok Sabha election
Dhule MP Subhash Bhamre thanks PM Modi after BJP reconsiders him for Lok Sabha election After being fielded again from the Dhule constituency, BJP MP Subhash Bhamre expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president JP Nadda after the party fielded him from the Dhule constituency again. I am very happy today that the Central Election Committee has announced my name. They have given me an opportunity once again. I thank the Prime Minister of the country, Narendra Modi. I also want to thank Party President JP Nadda, Amit Shah, and Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra ji Fadwanis. I want to thank the public also... said BJP MP Subhash Bhamre. Earlier on Wednesday, The Bharatiya Janata Party released the second list of Lok Sabha polls consisting of 72 candidates, including three former Chief Ministers Manohar Lal Khattar, Trivendra Singh Rawat, Basvaraj Bommai as well as four Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari, Anurag Thakur, and Piyush Goyal, Pralhad Joshi. The BJP has fielded former Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar for the Karnal Lok Sabha seat. Manohar Lal Khattar had earlier resigned from the position of Haryana Chief Minister on Tuesday. In Himachal Pradesh, Union Minister Anurag Thakur will contest from the Hamirpur constituency. Suresh Kashyap has been fielded from Shimla seat. In Karnataka, the party has fielded Union Minister Pralhad Joshi from Dharwad. Tejaswi Surya will contest from the Bangalore South constituency. Former Karnataka Chief Minister Basvaraj Bommai has been given a ticket from the Haveri Lok Sabha seat, while PC Mohan will contest from Bangalore Central. In Maharashtra, the BJP has decided to field Union Minister Nitin Gadkari from the Nagpur seat. Piyush Goyal will contest from Mumbai North. Pankja Munde has been fielded from Beed.The BJP also announced the candidature for two seats in Uttarakhand. The party has fielded former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat from the Haridwar seat while Anil Baluni, who is the National Chief Spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party is set to contest from the Garhwal seat. Also, BJP announced that Harsh Malhotra will contest from East Delhi constituency, a seat which was held by former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir. Yogendra Chandolia will contest from North West Delhi. Meanwhile, Kalaben Delkar will contest from Dadar and Nagar Haveli. In the second list, the BJP has announced the names of candidates for seven Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat. In Gujarat, the party has fielded Hashmukhbhai Somabhai Patel from Ahmedabad East, Dhawal Patel from Valsad, Mukeshbhai Chandrakant Dalal from Surat, Ranjanben Dhananjay Bhatt from Vadodara, Nimuben Bambhania from Bhavnagar, Bhikhaji Dudhaji Thakor from Sabarkantha and Jashubhai Bhilubhai Rathwa from Chhota Udaipur. Six names have been announced from Haryana. Banto Kataria from Ambala, Ashok Tanwar from Sirsa, Chaudhary Dharambir Singh from Bhiwani-Mahendargah, Rao Inderjit Singh Yadav from Gurgaon, and Krishanpal Gurjar from Faridabad. BJP has fielded Raghvendra from Shimoga and V Sommana from Tumkur in Karnataka.In Madhya Pradesh, the BJP has fielded Vivek 'Bunty' Sahu from the Chhindwara seat where he will face Congress leader Nakul Nath. Shankar Lalwani will contest from Indore. In Maharashtra, Anup Dhotre will fight the polls from the Akola seat on the BJP ticket, and Kapil Moreshwar Patil from Bhiwandi. In Telangana, Godam Nagesh will contest from Adilabad, DK Aruna from Mahbubnagar, and Saida Reddy will contest from Nalgonda. From Tripura East, Maharani Kriti Singh Debbarma will contest on BJP ticket. Earlier, the Bharatiya Janata Party released its first list of 195 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will contest the Lok Sabha elections from Varanasi again. Meanwhile, Congress has so far announced names for 82 Lok Sabha seats.The BJP-led National Democratic (NDA) won a total of 303 seats, leaving the grand-old party behind at 52 seats.The Lok Sabha polls are slated to be held in April-May this year. (ANI)
Yediyurappa cheated us: Eashwarappa hits out after his son denied LS ticket
Shimoga: Miffed after his son was denied a ticket for the Haveri-Gadag Lok Sabha seat, senior BJP leader KS Eshwarappa on Wednesday laid the blame on former chief minister and Lingayat stalwart BS Yediyurappa. Sulking after the BJP put former CM Basavaraj Bommai on the ticket for the Haveri-Gadag Lok Sabha constituency, the senior BJP Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Children of two ex-CMs to lock horns in Shimoga LS constituency
Children of two ex-CMs to lock horns in Shimoga LS constituency Children of two former chief ministers will be in the contest for the Shimoga Lok Sabha seat, with BJP on Wednesday fielding its sitting MP and veteran BJP leader B S Yediyurappa's son B Y Raghavendra. The Congress has named former Chief Minister late S Bangarappa's daughter Geetha Shivarajkumar, who is the wife of Karnataka film star Shivarajkumar and daughter-in-law of Kannada thespian late Rajkumar. Raghavendra has been elected to Parliament from Shimoga three times. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and in the 2018 by-election, he defeated Geetha's brother Madhu Bangarappa, who is now the minister in the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government. Madhu was then with JD(S). Raghavendra, in his first Lok Sabha election in 2009, had defeated S Bangarappa. Geetha had earlier contested from the seat on the JD(S) ticket in 2014 and lost against Yediyurappa by a huge margin. She had come third in that election behind Congress candidate Manjunath Bhandary.
LS Polls: BJP Releases Second List with 72 Names
New Delhi : The BJP on Wednesday released its second list of 72 more candidates for the impending Lok Sabha elections. Former BJP president and Union minister Nitin Gadkari from Maharashtra's Nagpur, former Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar from Karnal and Union minister Piyush Goyal from Mumbai North are among the prominent names on the new list. While it will be Mr Khattar's first Lok Sabha election, it is Mr Goyal's electoral debut. Other important names in the BJPs second list of candidates are Union minister Anurag Thakur from Himachal Pradesh's Hamirpur, Rajya Sabha MP and BJP national media convenor Anil Baluni from Uttarakhand's Pauri Garhwal, former CM Trivendra Singh Rawat from Haridwar, former Karanataka CM Basavraj Bommai from Haveri and the current titular king of the erstwhile Mysore royal family Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar from Mysore. Mr Wadiyar will be replacing incumbent MP Pratap Simha, whose name got embroiled in the recent Parliament breach case. Also, Uttarakhand's Haridwar seat is currently represented by former Union minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank. Another member of an erstwhile royal family in the BJP list is Maharani Kriti Singh Debbarma from Tripura East. Ms Singh is the elder sister of regional outfit Tipra Motha's Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma. Tipra Motha recently announced its alliance with the BJP. This seat is currently represented by BJP MP Rebati Tripura. The BJP has fielded Kalaben Delkar from Dadar and Nagar Haveli, who is a sitting MP and had joined the saffron party a couple of days back. She had won the seat in a bypoll in 2021 on a Shiv Sena (UBT) ticket. The BJP has fielded parliamentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi from Dharwad and former chief minister and Lingayat leader B.S. Yediyurappa's son B.Y. Raghavendra from Shimoga. Union minister Shobha Karandlaje has been shifted from Udupi Chikmagalur to Bangalore North. Former Karnataka state unit chief Nalin Kumar Kateel has been replaced by Brijesh Chota in Dakshina Kannada. The party has fielded Pankaja Munde, daughter of late Gopinath Munde, from Maharashtra's Beed, currently represented by her sister Pritam. Union minister Bharati Pawar will contest from Dindori and senior leader Sudhir Mungantiwar from Chandrapur. In Telangana, the party has named Madavaneni Raghunandan Rao from Medak, D.K. Aruna from Mahabubnagar, Azmeera Seetaram Naik from Mahabubabad and Godam Nagesh from Adilabad. In Madhya Pradesh, the party has fielded sitting MP Shankar Lalwani from Indore, sitting MP Anil Firoziya from Ujjain and Vivek Sahu from Chhindwara. From Gujarat, the party has renominated Hasmukbhai Somabhai Patel from Ahmedabad East and Ranjanben Dhananjay Bhatt from Vadodara. The BJP has named Mukeshbhai Chandrakant Dalal from Surat and Bhikhaji Dudhani Thakor from Sabarkantha. Surat is currently represented by Union minister Darshana Jardosh. The party had earlier released 195 names, which also included Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several Union ministers, including Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh.
Gadkari, Piyush Goyal, ex-CM Khattar in BJP's second list of 72 candidates for Lok Sabha polls
Gadkari, Piyush Goyal, ex-CM Khattar in BJP's second list of 72 candidates for Lok Sabha polls Union ministers Nitin Gadkari, Piyush Goyal and Anurag Singh Thakur, and three former chief ministers, including Haryana's Manohar Lal Khattar, figured in the BJP's second list of 72 candidates for the Lok Sabha elections announced on Wednesday. The ruling party dropped former Union ministers Sadananda Gowda and Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' from their seats. Khattar and Goyal will be making their Lok Sabha poll debut from Karnal in Haryana and Mumbai North respectively. Former Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai will contest from Haveri and former Uttarakhand chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat from Haridwar. BJP chief spokesperson Anil Baluni will also be fighting his first Lok Sabha poll as the BJP fielded him from Garhwal, replacing former Uttarakhand chief minister Tirath Singh Rawat. Gadkari and Thakur will seek re-election from Nagpur in Maharashtra and Hamirpur in Himachal Pradesh respectively. In the Beed constituency in Maharashtra, Pankaja Munde has replaced her sister and incumbent MP Pritam Munde. With the second list, the BJP has announced the names of 265 candidates for the Lok Sabha elections due in April-May. On March 2, the party released its first list of candidates for 195 Lok Sabha seats, but two of them -- Bhojpuri singer-actor Pawan Singh and Upendra Rawat -- withdrew after their nominations sparked controversies. Of the 72 seats for which the party announced its candidates on Wednesday, 20 each were from Maharashtra and Karnataka, seven from Gujarat, six each from Haryana and Telangana, five from Madhya Pradesh, two each from Delhi, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, and one each from Tripura, and Dadar & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu. The BJP's second list includes 10 women candidates. In Delhi, the BJP has fielded two new candidates -- Harsh Malhotra from East Delhi and Yogendra Chandolia from North West Delhi -- dropping the party's sitting MPs Gautam Gambhir and Hans Raj Hans. With this, the BJP has named candidates for all seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi, dropping six incumbents. Tejasvi Surya, the BJP youth wing president, will contest again from Bangalore South while Union minister Shobha Karandlaje has been shifted from her Udupi Chikmagalur seat to Bangalore North, represented by former Union minister and Karnataka chief minister Gowda in the outgoing Lok Sabha. Yaduveer Krishnadatta Wadiyar of the erstwhile Mysore royal family replaces Pratap Simha, who was recently in a row for recommending passes to two persons who breached Parliament's security, as the BJP candidate in the Mysore seat. Former Karnataka BJP president Nalin Kumar Kateel has been dropped from Dakshina Kannada in favour of Brijesh Chowta, who has served in the Army. In Karnataka, Union minister Pralhad Joshi will fight from Dharwad while former chief minister BS Yediyurappa's son B Y Raghwendra will contest from Shimoga again. Union minister Darshana Jardosh has been dropped from her Surat seat, with the BJP repeating only two of the seven incumbent MPs from Gujarat in the second list. Several Telangana leaders who quit other parties, mainly BRS, figure in the BJP's second list. In the Tripura East seat, the BJP fielded Maharani Kriti Singh Debbarma, sister of Pradyot Debbarma, the Tipra Motha chief and a scion of the erstwhile Tripura royal family. Union minister Bharati Pravin Pawar will join the fray from Maharashtra's Dindori Lok Sabha seat again. Ashok Tanwar, who recently joined the BJP after having a stint with several other parties including the Congress, TMC and the Aam Aadmi Party, replaces sitting MP Sunita Duggal in Sirsa in Haryana, while Union ministers Rao Inderjit Singh and Krishan Pal Gurjar will seek re-election from Gurgaon and Faridabad respectively. In the first list, the ruling party had announced Prime Minister Narendra Modi would contest from Varanasi for a third time. It had also named 34 Union ministers, including heavyweights like Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh from their current Gandhinagar and Lucknow seats respectively, in the first list. Two former chief ministers -- Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Biplab Kumar Deb -- also figured in the first list which did not have many surprise omissions.
Rahul Gandhi to recontest from Wayanad as Cong announces first list of 39 candidates for LS polls
Rahul Gandhi to recontest from Wayanad as Cong announces first list of 39 candidates for LS polls Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will contest the Lok Sabha polls from Kerala's Wayanad once again as the party announced its first list of 39 candidates on Friday. Former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel has been fielded by the party from Rajnandgaon in Chhattisgarh, AICC general secretary K C Venugopal from Alappuzha (Kerala) and Shashi Tharoor renominated from Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala. However, the party has denied ticket to sitting MP T N Prathapan from the Thrissur constituency, while Venugopal will contest from the lone seat that the Congress lost last time. Tharoor will be contesting from the seat for the fourth time in a row from Thiruvanathapuram. Venugopal said the first list has 15 general category candidates while 24 are from the SC, ST, OBC and minority communities. He also said there are 12 candidates below the age of 50 years, eight between 50 and 60 years, 12 between 61-70 and seven from 71-76 years. There are, however, only three women candidates among the first list of 39 candidates. Congress treasurer Ajay Maken said the list has a good mix of youth and experienced leaders, besides those who have been associated with the Congress party from their student and youth days and are connected with the grassroots. ''The Central Election Committee had met yesterday and has selected 39 candidates in the first list, which includes former Congress president Rahul Gandhi and former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel,'' he announced at a press conference. Asked whether senior leaders have been asked to contest the Lok Sabha polls, Venugopal said this is the Lok Sabha election which will decide the future of the country. ''Our target is to win the maximum number of seats in this Lok Sabha election to eradicate this fascist government. That is the target. We are searching (candidates) for winning each and every seat wherever we can win. ''Senior leaders are there in this list and will be there in coming lists also,'' he said, indicating many senior leaders would figure in the forthcoming lists of the party. Among the candidates declared, six are from Chhattisgarh, seven from Karnataka, 16 from Kerala, four from Telangana, two from Meghalaya and one each from Sikkim, Nagaland, Tripura and Lakshadweep. Among the candidates declared by the party after the CEC cleared it, include Bhupesh Baghel from Rajnandgaon, Shivkumar Dahariya from Jangir-Champa (SC), Jyotsana Mahant from Korba, Tamradhwaj Sahu from Mahasamund, Rajendra Sahu from Durg, Vikas Upadhyay from Raipur (all from Chhattisgarh). Besides, D K Suresh, brother of Karnataka deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar, has been fielded once again from the Bangalore Rural constituency, H R Algur (Raju) from Bijapur (SC), Anandaswamy Gaddadevara Math from Haveri, Geetha Shivarajkumar from Shimoga, M Shreyas Patel from Hassan, S P Muddahanumegowda from Tumkur and Venkataramegowda (Star Chandru) from Mandya in Karnataka. In Kerala, Rahul Gandhi will contest from Wayanad, K C Venugopal from Alappuzha, Rajmohan Unnithan from Kasaragod, K Sudhakaran from Kannur, Shafi Parambil from Vadakara, M K Raghavan from Kozhikode, V K Sreekandan from Palakkad, Ramya Haridas from Alathur (SC), K Muraleedharan from Thrissur, Benny Behanan from Chalakudy, Hibi Eden from Ernakulam, Dean Kuriakose from Idukki, party's chief whip in Lok Sabha Kodikunnil Suresh from Mavelikkara (SC), Anto Antony from Pathanamthitta, Adoor Prakash from Attingal and Shashi Tharoor has been renominated from his Thiruvananthapuram constituency. For the Lakshadweep (ST) seat, the party has fielded Mohd Hamdullah Sayeed, while in Meghalaya, former chief minister Vincent H Pala will contest from Shillong (ST) and Saleng A Sangma from the Tura (ST) seat which the TMC was earlier demanding. For the lone Nagaland seat, S Supongmeren Jamir has been fielded while in Sikkim the party has fielded Gopal Chettri. In Telangana, the party has fielded Suresh Kumar Shetkar from Zahirabad, Raghuveer Kunduru from Nalgonda, Challa Vamshi Chand Reddy from Mahbubnagar and Balram Naik Porika from Mahabubabad (ST). For the Tripura (West) seat, the Congress has fielded Ashish Kumar Saha in its first list. The announcement came a day after the CEC finalised the names for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections following a discussion on over 60 Lok Sabha seats from 11 states and Union territories. Discussions were held on Lok Sabha seats in Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Sikkim, Tripura, Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya and Lakshadweep. ''We are in election mode and are on an aggressive path of campaigning with Rahul Gandhi undertaking the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra which is currently in Gujarat,'' Venugopal said. The Nyay Yatra will end on March 17 in Mumbai with a mammoth rally and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is writing to all INDIA bloc partners to attend that joint public rally, he said. There are speculations that Rahul Gandhi may also contest from Amethi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra from Raebareli, a seat which was previously held by Sonia Gandhi. Both the seats are considered bastions of the Gandhi family and the local units of the Congress have demanded that the two scions of the Congress first family should contest from there. Venugopal, however, did not answer questions on whether Rahul Gandhi would contest from Amethi too and said the seats will be declared after they are cleared by the CEC. He said the next meeting of CEC headed by the Congress chief would be held on March 11.
Congress has confirmed that former Congress President Rahul Gandhi will be seeking re-election from Kerala's Wayanad in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections by unveiling its first list of 39 candidates on Friday. The Central Election Committee meeting finalised the names of the candidates from eight states and one Union Territory at a meeting chaired by party president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday. The states include Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Kerala, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Sikkim, Telangana, and Tripura. Kerala will see three of the partys high-profile leaders including Rahul Gandhi, AICC general secretary (organization) KC Venugopal from Alappuzha, Working Committee member and Sitting MP from Thiruvananthapuram Shashi Tharoor in the fray. The list also includes heavyweights such as former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel contesting from the Rajnandgaon constituency. Battle of biggies in Wayanad, Thiruvananthapuram Though the list is on expected lines, some of the key contests to watch out for would be in Wayanad, where Rahul Gandhi will be taking on his INDIA bloc ally, the CPIs Annie Raja. Rahul, who was previously an MP from Amethi, had lost from there in 2019, but won from Wayanad. The other big contest will be between Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar and Shashi Tharoor in Thiruvananthapuram. 'List based on winnability and loyalty' Of the 39 candidates announced, 15 are from the general category and 24 are from the SC/ST/minorities categories. Our priority is to win the maximum Lok Sabha seats for the Congress party to dislodge the Modi government in the next elections, KC Venugopal said after the announcement. There were no real surprises in the list and Congress has repeated most of its sitting MPs unlike the BJP which dropped many of theirs. Venugopal said, I don't know why BJP cut their sitting MPS. We are going by winnability and loyalty factors. The BJP has already released their first list of 195 candidates and the second list is expected soon. Though speculation is rife over Rahul Gandhi's candidature from Amethi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's from Rae Bareli, Venugopal declined to confirm anything. The second meeting of the CEC will be held on March 11. More seats will be discussed then, he said. Both the seats have been bastions of the Gandhi family, though Smriti Irani won from Amethi last time around, and the local units of the Congress have demanded that the two scions of the Congress first family should contest from there. However, the screening committee of Uttar Pradesh hasn't yet held any meetings to pick the candidates. Congress promises to fill 30 lakh vacant govt posts, apprenticeships for youths if voted to power Congress fields Geetha Shivarajkumar from Shimoga, renominates D K Suresh from Bangalore Rural In Karnataka, the Congress retained Deputy CM DK Shivkumar's brother DK Suresh in Bangalore Rural. No names have been announced for the Kalburgi seat amid speculations that Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge will contest from there. Kannada actor Shivarajkumar's wife Geetha Shivarajkumar (Shimoga) also figures in the list of seven candidates in Karnataka. A three-time MP, Suresh is the brother of Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar and the sitting MP from Bangalore Rural. He was the only Congress candidate to win in the 2019 general elections in the State. The other five candidates are: H R Algur (Bijapur), Anandswamy Gaddadevarmath (Haveri), SP Muddahanumegowda (Tumkur), Venkataramane Gowda (Mandya) and Shreyas M Patel (Hassan). The party naming Geetha Shivarajkumar for the Shivamogga seat seems to have set the stage for an interesting battle in the home district of BJP veteran BS Yediyurappa. Geetha, daughter of former Chief Minister late S Bangarappa, contested the 2014 Lok Sabha elections in Shivamogga (Shimoga) on a Janata Dal (Secular) ticket and lost to Yediyurappa. The seat is currently held by Yediyurappa's son, BY Raghavedra. Geetha, sister of Karnataka Minister for School Education Madhu Bangarappa and daughter-in- law of Kannada thespian late Rajkumar, joined the Congress in April last year ahead of the Assembly elections in Karnataka. Venkataramane Gowda, also known as Star Chandru, is a contractor by profession. The Mandya seat where he is contesting from is currently represented by Sumalatha Ambareesh, an independent backed by the BJP. The Congress had denied renomination to Muddahanumegowda from Tumkur in the 2019 elections to make way for Congress-JD(S) alliance candidate HD Deve Gowda who, however, lost the polls. Muddahanumegowda officially joined the BJP in 2022 but had kept a low profile. He returned to the Congress fold only last month and has now been named from the seat. Congress has named candidates in segments where there was no confusion over the nominee, a party leader said. The BJP-JD(S) combine is yet to come out with its list of candidates. Ten Karnataka BJP MPs may not get tickets for Lok Sabha polls The BJP had swept the 2019 general elections, bagging 25 of the total 28 seats in the state, while an independent (Sumalatha Ambareesh) backed by the party had also emerged victorious. The Congress and the JD(S), which were running a coalition government back then and fought the election together, had come a cropper winning just one seat each. But the political scene has changed significantly since then; the Congress scored a thumping victory in the Assembly elections in May last year and now appears battle-ready, determined to put up a strong show in the Lok Sabha polls. It is also a role reversal of sorts for JD(S) which joined the BJP-led NDA in September last year and wants to prove that it's still a force to reckon with, particularly in South Karnataka. Four from Telangana figure in Congress contestants list for LS polls Four candidates from Telangana including former Union Minister Balram Naik (Mahabubabad) also figured in the first list. The grand old party will be fielding Suresh Kumar Shetkar (Zaheerabad), C Vamshi Chand Reddy (Mahabubnagar) and Raghuveer Kunduru (Nalgonda). Naik served as Union Minister of State between 2009 and 2013 under the UPA-II government. Shetkar was a Lok Sabha member from Zaheerabad from 2009 to 2014, while Reddy is a former MLA. ( With inputs from PTI. )
The grand old party of Friday released the first list of 39 candidates for the Lok Sabha elections. Rahul Gandhi will be contesting from Wayanad while Ex-Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel will fight the Lok Sabha poll from Rajnandgaon. KC Venugopal will contest from Alappuzha in Kerala, Shashi Tharoor from Thiruvananthapuram. Jyotsna Mahant will contest from from Korba, Tamradhwaj Sahu from Mahasamund. KC Venugopal said the list has 15 general category candidates while 24 are from the SC, ST, OBC and minority communities. Congress treasurer Ajay Maken said the list has a good mix of youth and experience. The announcement came a day after the Congress' Central Election Committee (CEC) finalised the names for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections after having a discussion on over 60 Lok Sabha seats from 11 states and union territories. The CEC meeting was chaired by party president Mallikarjun Kharge. Discussions were held on Lok Sabha seats in Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Sikkim, Tripura, Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya and Lakshwadeep. We are in election mode and on an aggressive path of campaigning with Rahul Gandhi undertaking the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra which is in Gujarat, Venugopal said. The Nyay Yatra will end on March 17 in Mumbai with a mammoth rally planned and Congress president Kharge is writing to all INDIA bloc partners to attend that rally, he said. Kharge, former party chief Sonia Gandhi and Venugopal, as well as other senior leaders who are part of the CEC were present at the meeting. Congress promises to fill 30 lakh vacant govt posts, apprenticeships for youths if voted to power There is speculation that Rahul Gandhi may also contest from Amethi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra from Rae Bareli, a seat which was previously held by Sonia Gandhi. Both the seats are considered bastions of the Gandhi family and the local units of the Congress have demanded that the two scions of the Congress first family should contest from there. Rahul Gandhi, who was previously an MP from Amethi, lost the seat in 2019 but won from Wayanad in Kerala. Congress fields Geetha Shivarajkumar from Shimoga, renominates D K Suresh from Bangalore Rural DK Suresh (Bangalore Rural) and Kannada actor Shivarajkumar's wife Geetha Shivarajkumar (Shimoga) figure in the first list of seven candidates in Karnataka announced on Friday by the Congress for the coming Lok Sabha elections. A three-time MP, Suresh is the brother of Karnataka Congress chief D K Shivakumar and is the sitting member from Bangalore Rural. He was the only Congress candidate to win in the 2019 general elections in the State. The other five candidates are: H R Algur (Bijapur), Anandswamy Gaddadevarmath (Haveri), S P Muddahanumegowda (Tumkur), Venkataramane Gowda (Mandya) and Shreyas M Patel (Hassan). The party naming Geetha Shivarajkumar for the Shivamogga seat seems to have set the stage for an interesting battle in the home district of BJP veteran B S Yediyurappa. Geetha, daughter of former Chief Minister late S Bangarappa, contested the 2014 Lok Sabha elections in Shivamogga (Shimoga) on a Janata Dal (Secular) ticket and lost to Yediyurappa. The seat is currently held by Yediyurappa's son, BY Raghavedra. Geetha, sister of Karnataka Minister for School Education Madhu Bangarappa and daughter-in- law of Kannada thespian late Rajkumar, joined the Congress in April last year ahead of Assembly elections in Karnataka. Venkataramane Gowda, also known as Star Chandru, is a contractor by profession. The Mandya seat is represented by Sumalatha Ambareesh, an independent backed by the BJP. The Congress had denied renomination to Muddahanumegowda in the 2019 elections to make way for Congress-JD(S) alliance candidate HD Deve Gowda who, however, lost the polls. Muddahanumegowda officially joined the BJP in 2022 but kept a low profile. He returned to the Congress fold only last month. Congress has named candidates in segments where there was no confusion over the nominee, a party leader said. The BJP-JD(S) combine is yet to come out with its list of candidates. Ten Karnataka BJP MPs may not get tickets for Lok Sabha polls The BJP had swept the 2019 general elections, bagging 25 of the total 28 seats in the state, while an independent (Sumalatha Ambareesh) backed by the party had also emerged victorious. The Congress and the JD(S), which were running a coalition government back then and fought the election together, had come a cropper winning just one seat each. But the political scene has changed significantly since then; the Congress scored a thumping victory in the Assembly elections in May last year and now appears battle-ready, determined to put up a strong show in the Lok Sabha polls. It is also a role reversal of sorts for JD(S) which joined the BJP-led NDA in September last year and wants to prove that it's still a force to reckon with, particularly in South Karnataka. Four from Telangana figure in Congress contestants list for LS polls Four candidates from Telangana including former Union Minister Balram Naik (Mahabubabad) figured in the first list of 39 Congress contesting candidates released by the AICC on Friday for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The grand old party will be fielding Suresh Kumar Shetkar (Zaheerabad), C Vamshi Chand Reddy (Mahabubnagar) and Raghuveer Kunduru (Nalgonda). Naik served as Union Minister of State between 2009 and 2013 under the UPA-II government. Shetkar was a Lok Sabha member from Zaheerabad from 2009 to 2014, while Reddy is a former MLA.
