JD(S) releases list of candidates

JD(S) has released its list of candidates for 126 constituencies in the first phase, including the names of candidates for the four constituencies in the district.

MLA V S V Datta, MLA B B Ningaiah, Venkatesh Govindegowda and Harish have been selected as candidates for Kadur, Mudigere, Sringeri and Chikkamagaluru respectively.

The candidate for Tarikere has not been announced. Kuruba community leader T H Shivashankarappa's name is being heard among the names of aspirants.

During his village stay at Mugalavalli in the district recently, JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy had said that sitting MLAs will surely be given tickets. Ningaiah and Datta have, therefore, been fielded from Mudigere and Kadur respectively. Venkatesh Govindegowda's candidature from Sringeri is also an expected one.

B H Harish who recently quit BJP and joined JD(S) has been announced as the JD(S) candidate from Chikkamagaluru. JD(S) state vice president H H Devraj, district president Ranjan Ajit Kumar were among the main aspirants.

Harish belongs to the Lingayat community and is a wholesale merchant of vegetables. He is also a member of APMC.