Four LS members to contest Assembly polls

Bangalore, Apr 25 (UNI) Four sitting members of Lok Sabha from Karnataka will return to state politics and contest the next month's state Assembly elections.

Former Union Minister and BJP MP from Bijapur Mr Basavaraj Patil Yatnal will contest from Hoovina Hiparagi in Bijapur District on May 16.

Another BJP MP from Bellary, Mr Karunakara Reddy will try his fortunes from Harapanahalli Assembly constituency.

Film actor turned politician, Congress Lok Sabha Member and Union Minister of state for Information Ambareesh, who had resigned from both the ministership and Lok Sabha seat in the backdrop of Cauvery agitation, filed his nomination for Srirangapatna Assembly seat in Mandya district. The party had earlier denied him the ticket and had selected Mr Ravindra Srikantaiah. However, the party included his name removing Mr Ravindra's name.

The other sitting Lok Sabha member who has decided to plunge into state politics is former Karnataka Chief Minister S Bangarappa, representing Shimoga in the Lok Sabha.

Mr Bangarappa, who is also Samajawadi Party state unit President will contest from Shikaripur Assembly seat from where BJP's Chief Ministerial candidate B S Yeddyurappa is also seeking re-election for the sixth time.

Apart from Lok Sabha members, five sitting members of Karnataka Legislative council, including Opposition Leader in the Legislative Council H K Patil, have also decided to contest.

Congress leader and former Minister H K Patil will contest from Gadag Assembly constituency.

The BJP has decided to field three of its sitting Council members, state unit general secretary Shobha Karandlaje from Yeshwantpur constituency, Mr Aravinda Limbavali and Basavaraj Bommai from Mahadeva Pura and Shiggavi assembly seats, respectively.

The JD(S) in Karantaka also decided to field three of its sitting members in Karnataka Legislative Council in the assembly polls. Its member Chickmadu would be the party's nominee for Hunsur assembly seat, while Y S V Datta and Basavaraj Horatti would contest from Kadur in Chickmagalur and Hubli urban, respectively.

UNI MV MSP VV SV BST1714