Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, May 31: Mangalore-origin hotelier, Goldfinch fame Prakash Shetty's name has been cleared by the BJP core comittee for one of the two vacant seats for Rajya Sabha from the state.

Sources close to BJP told daijiworld that Prabhakar Kore's and Prakash Shetty's names had been under consideration for the seat, and that BJP core committee has finalised Shetty's name.

With two seats for Rajya Sabha vacant, BJP and Congress are expected to win one seat each. Interestingly, P Chidambaram, former union finance minister who opted out of contesting the Lok Sabha election from Tamil Nadu is eyeing a backdoor entry from Karnataka. Sources say that the state Congress leaders including CM Siddaramaiah are opposing Chidambaram's entry from the state as CM's close aide C M Ibrahim is also eying the RS seat.

Prakash Shetty's name was making the rounds as a candidate for Lok Sabha election from Udupi-Chikmagalur seat, but a last minute decision forced Shetty to stay out of the race. Prabhakar Kore, another influencial BJP leader from the state, who is also close to former CM Yeddyurappa is unlikely to be given Rajya Sabha entry for the second consecutive time. Currently he is RS member from the state. Reports in the BJP circle says that several of its leader were opposing Kore's nomination for the second time.

RSS leaders in the state and BJP leaders from coastal region have strongly recomonded Shetty's name for RS seat.

If the BJP high command proposes any outsider's name for the state, then Prakash Shetty is likely to lose his chance. However, so far no other names other than Shetty's and Kore's are heard.