It's Dhananjay Kumar in Udupi-Chikmagalur

Janata Dal (Secular) confirming the nomination of former Union minister Dhananjay Kumar from Udupi-Chikmagalur seat and C S Puttaraju from Mandya constituency.

The party also announced the candidature of D S Sagar, Dalit leader from Gulbarga constituency, to take on Union Minister Mallikarjun Kharge.

The party, nonetheless, refrained from naming JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy from Chikkaballapur.

JD(S) national president H D Deve Gowda said the party was waiting for final touches to be given to the remaining 13 seats, before announcing the final list of candidates on March 23. The party has said it will be fielding one Muslim candidate from Bangalore.
Gowda said former MLC Abdul Azeem and sitting MLA from Chamarajpet, Zameer Ahmed Khan, were being considered for the seat.

But both are not inclined to contest, it is said.

While Azeem has fought and lost in Assembly elections, Zameer is sceptical of his chances from Bangalore North constituency.

A third name making the rounds is of Syed Yasin, son-in-law of Jaffer Sharief.
He is former MLA from Raichur.

Almost finalised

The name of Mahima Patel, son of the late chief minister J H Patel is likely  to be finalised for Davangere seat from JD(S).

Patel, presently in Congress, has been denied  ticket for two consecutive elections from Davangere.

In Koppal, the party is looking to field Shailaja Ramesh, who has been associated with the party for over 35 years.

On H T Sangliana’s candidature, JD(S) is still awaiting any word from the disgruntled Congressman.

Jaffer Sharief is likely to return from his Mecca trip on March 22, and announce his candidature the next day.

Dhananjay Kumar told reporters that he was not a turncoat and would look to build his political career through JD(S).