Cong steals march in finalizing candidates for Karna polls

As the Karnataka Assembly polls were announced today, parties turned their focus on finalising probable candidates with opposition Congress stealing a march.

Fresh from its recent impressive success in Urban Local Bodies (ULB) elections, Opposition Congress' election committee has finalised the party's probables list earlier this week.

Deputy Chief Minister K S Eshwarappa, who recently quit as state BJP chief with his successor yet to be named, said consultations have been completed on selection of BJP candidates in all 224 constituencies for the May 5 poll, with interactions with BJP district presidents, MPs and MLAs.

The party would finalise the list at a meeting of the State election committee on March 23, which would then be forwarded to the central leadership for clearance, he said.

Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, who was with Eshwarappa, said "we will come back (to power) with clear majority".

Eshwarappa said the party would face the election on the plank of the achievements of the BJP's first-ever government in the South.

Appearing dismissive of the damage inflicted to BJP by former BJP leader B S Yeddurappa in the ULB polls, he said the party has become "free and pure" after the exit of the former chief minister who had gone to jail on graft charges and against whom CBI had filed a case.

"Now there is unity in the leadership. There is no confusion", he claimed. "The workers and well-wishers are happy that those facing CBI cases and had served a prison term are not there. The party has become free and pure".