Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Feb 18: JD(S) supremo, H D Deve Gowda, in the past, had promised to release list of party candidates for the forthcoming assembly election before other parties in the state. He met his promise, as JD(S) came out with its first list of candidates for the assembly election from the state, on Saturday February 17.

JD(S) national president, Deve Gowda, released the list at the JD(S) mega convention held here on Saturday. The first list contains the names of party nominees for 126 constituencies. All 30 existing MLAs have been given the tickets. Out of 40 MLAs from JD(S), seven have revolted, while two others have defected to BJP. Surprisingly, the first list does not contain the name of Mallikarjun Khooba, Basavakalyan MLA. In another surprise, the party has decided to field Mandya MP, C S Puttaraju, from Melukote constituency.

Revanna and Puttaraju

State JD(S) president, H D Kumaraswamy, was expected to take the plunge from a north Karnataka constituency to strengthen party base there but he has chosen to seek re-election from his Ramanagara constituency. Name of prospective candidate for neighbouing Channapatna constituency, from where Anita Kumaraswamy was expected to get the ticket, has not been announced.

A S Patil Nadahalli, who crossed over to JD(S) from Congress, will be fielded from Muddebihal constituency again. Anand Asnotikar, who is a newcomer for JD(S) has been allotted Karwar constituency. H D Revanna will fight from Holenarasipur constituency while G T Deve Gowda is likely to take on Siddaramaiah in Chamundeshwari constituency.

In coastal Karnataka, Ravi Shetty has been given Byndoor constituency with Udupi going to Birthi Gangadhar Bhandary.

By being the first to release the list, JD(S) seems to have given its candidates an edge over others by providing them more time to plan their strategies and undertake campaigning in leisure.