Former Karnataka CM B S Yeddyurappa's son B Y Raghavendra to contest assembly bypolls

BANGALORE: Former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa's son B Y Raghavendra will contest from Shikaripur constituency, which the state BJP strongman had represented, in the August 21 by-elections being held for three seats.

Yeddyurappa had vacated Shikaripura seat after he made his Lok Sabha debut in the May elections from Shimoga constituency, which his son had represented earlier.

State BJP President Prahalad Joshi announced names of the party candidates. Mahantesh Kavatagimath (Chikkodi-Sadalga) and Oblesh (Bellary) are the other candidates.

"The names were decided in the party's core committee meeting held here today," he said.

By-elections to two other seats are being held after sitting MLAs Prakash Hukkeri (Chikkodi-Sadalga) and B Sriramulu (Bellary) were elected to the Lok Sabha.

Counting of votes will be taken up on August 25. The last date for filing nominations is August 2, while scrutiny will be done on August 4. August 6 is the last date for withdrawal of candidature.

The by-elections is tagged as another litmus test for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his government, after the unimpressive show of the ruling Congress in the Lok Sabha elections in which it could notch up only nine out of the 28 seats. BJP had won 17 seats and JDS 2.