Congress' first list for Karnataka polls soon; BJP keeps MLAs guessing

With the assembly polls in Karnataka less than eight weeks away, the Congress' screening committee is finalising names of nominees ahead of the ruling BJP. The state Congress will send its recommendations to the central election committee which will release the final list. The first list is expected to be out in about a week, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee communication cell head Priyank Kharge told ET. "The party is targeting to release 130-150 names in the first batch," he said.

The party is looking at only constituencies that have one formidable candidate, and not where there are multiple strong claimants. Kharge junior said the party was expecting about 8-10 strong leaders, including MLAs, to switch sides from BJP. Karnataka has 224 assembly seats and the 2018 assembly polls had produced a hung verdict after a triangular contest involving Janata Dal (Secular). Though Congress secured 38% votes, BJP with 36.22% votes ended up as the largest party in 2018.

Congress plan to release the list early was delayed a bit after it found too many aspirants. BJP is also facing the same problem. MLAs are not sure of securing renomination as BJP had denied tickets to several MLAs in Uttarakhand and Gujarat to reduce the burden of incumbency. JDS, meanwhile, has announced candidates for 93 seats and has launched its campaign.