Karnataka Election: Fake list of BJP candidates goes viral on social media

The BJP on Tuesday responded to a purported list of candidates for the May 10 Assembly elections in Karnataka that is in circulation on social media, and claimed that it was a "lie manufactured in the Congress factory".

The "fake" four-page list of candidates for 81 constituencies is in circulation on social media with the claim that it had been released by the Central Election Committee of the BJP on Tuesday after a meeting chaired by party national president J P Nadda.

The party issued a statement quoting its national general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Arun Singh as saying that the list is fake.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said the process of selecting candidates for the Assembly polls is being held in a democratic way and it will be completed smoothly with the list being announced after the party's central leadership finalises it on April 8.

Asked by reporters if there will be surprise candidates in the fray from the BJP, he said: "Certainly, there is a plan for new experiments in certain constituencies and they will happen."

Some seats will give a "surprise result", he said. "You are going to see it in the days to come. Both our workers and leaders are confident."

He also said there are clear signs of BJP getting absolute majority and coming back to power.

"Today's state election committee meeting is a continued part of the district-level core committee meeting that took place over the last couple of days; further screening would be done today and tomorrow before sending (the list of probable candidates) to the centre (central leadership). It will be sent to the centre day after tomorrow," Bommai said.

Speaking to reporters here, he said the list of finalised candidates will be out after the central leadership decides on it on April 8.

The Congress and JD(S) have already announced their first list of 124 and 93 candidates, respectively.

Stating that the party workers are excited about the ruling party's prospects, the Chief Minister said, looking at the developments during the last three to four months in the run-up to the election, "there are all signs of (BJP) getting a clear majority."

Aimed at coming back to power with a clear majority, BJP has set a target of winning at least 150 seats in the 224 member assembly.

Karnataka will vote on May 10 and the results will be out on May 13.

with PTI inputs