The BJP fielded Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai from his traditional Shiggaon constituency and party strongman B S Yediyurappa's son B Y Vijayendra from Shikaripura constituency as the party released its first list of 189 candidates for the May 10 Karnataka assembly polls.
Announcing the names at a press conference in New Delhi late on Tuesday night here, BJP's Karnataka in-charge Arun Singh said 52 of the 189 candidates are new faces and eight women. Thirty-two of the candidates belong to Other Backward Classes (OBCs), 30 Scheduled Castes (SCs) and 16 Scheduled Tribes (STs).
To take on the Congress big guns, the BJP fielded two state ministers -- R Ashoka against state Congress chief D K Shivakumar in Kanakapura and V Somanna against former chief minister Siddaramaiah in Varuna. Ashoka and Somanna will also contest from one more seat each, the BJP announced.
Among the candidates named in the first list, nine are doctors, five advocates, three academicians, one retired IAS officer, one retired IPS officer, three retired government employees and eight social activists, he added.
The candidates have been selected to bring in "a new generation leadership and fresh ideas" while maintaining balance with the elder leaders, Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who is Karnataka poll-in-charge of the party, told mediapersons.
According to the list released by the party, Chief Minister Bommai will seek another term from his traditional Shiggaon seat. BJP veteran and former chief minister B S Yediyurappa's son B Y Vijayendra will contest from his father's Shikaripura constituency in Shivamogga district. BJP national general secretary C T Ravi will contest from his traditional Chikmagalur seat.
The BJP's Central Election Committee had met on Sunday and senior party leaders, including those from the state, held hectic parleys since then to finalise the list by incorporating the suggestions made at the meeting, attended among others by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Filing of nominations for the May 10 elections begins on April 13 and will continue till April 20. The BJP aims to retain power in the southern state by winning a majority in the 224-seat assembly.