The Janata Dal (Secular), which announced the first list of 126 candidates on February 17, is all set to release its second list soon.
“The second list is almost ready,” said party State president H.D. Kumaraswamy. The party had not waited for “discontented candidates” from other parties, to accommodate them in the list, he added.
Following pre-poll alliance, the JD(S) agreed to earmark 20 seats for Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and another five to seven seats will be shared with the Nationalist Congress Party.
Interestingly, the first list does not include names for two contentious constituencies — Channapatna and Rajarajeswari Nagar — where Anitha Kumaraswamy, wife of H.D. Kumaraswamy, and Prajwal Revanna, son of H.D. Revanna, are seeking ticket.
Though it was speculated that Mr. Kumaraswamy will be contesting from two constituencies — Channapatna and Devar Hipparagi — he is now contesting from Ramanagaram. “Contesting from the two constituencies will become fodder for political detractors, besides adding to poll expenditure,” he said. A.H. Vishwanath, who joined the JD(S) recently, is contesting from Hunsur and old warhorse P.G.R. Sindhia is contesting from Bhalki because of his Marathi connections. Abhishek, a US-returned candidate, is taking on Yatindra Siddaramaiah in Varuna constituency. Mr. Abhishek is the son of a senior official in JSS educational institutions.
The release of the first list created heartburn in a few constituencies, especially in Mysuru region. Announcing names of Ravindra Srikantaiah for Srirangapatna and K.C. Narayana Gowda respectively in Srirangapatna and K.R. Pet constituencies, created discontent in the rank and file of the party.
