BJP's first list of candidates for Karnataka polls out: 10 facts

The BJP on Tuesday released its first list of 189 candidates for the May 10 Karnataka assembly polls.

The party has sought to strike a balance in terms of representation of various castes and communities. It has also up up "strong candidates" against senior Congress leaders. Apart from fresh faces, the BJP has also focused on "social engineering" in its first list of candidates.

The BJP, aiming to return to power in Karnataka with absolute majority, has set a target of winning at least 150 of the total 224 seats in the Assembly.

The single-phase polls will be held on May 10.

Check out 10 Facts About the BJP's first list:

• The list has 52 fresh faces and 20 sitting MLAs have been dropped.

• Minister Angara, Lalaji R Mendon (Kapu), Raghupathi Bhat (Udupi), Anil S Benake (Belagavi North), Sanjeev Matandur (Putturu), Mahadevappa Shivalingappa Yadawad MLA (Ramadurg), Ramanna Lamani (Shirahatti), and Goolihatti D Shekhar (Hosadurga) have been denied tickets.

• In the first list, 51 are Lingayats and 41 are Vokkaligas, the two dominant communities in the State.

• The first list has nine doctors, five advocates, three academics, one retired IAS officer, one retired IPS officer, three retired government employees and eight social activists.

• The list includes 32 candidates from the OBC community, 30 belonging to the Scheduled Castes and 16 to Scheduled Tribes.

• The BJP has fielded Manikanta Rathod, a 28-year-old youth against Priyank Kharge, son of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge from Chittapur.

• The party has not announced tickets yet to Shivamogga and Hubballi-Dharwad Central, the seats represented by senior leaders K S Eshwarappa and Jagadish Shettar.

• V Somanna will be taking on Congress heavyweight Siddaramaiah in Varuna constituency. He will also contest from Chamarajnagar

• R Ashoka will contest against Congress state chief DK Shivakumar. He will also be contesting from Padmanabha Nagar.

• BS Yediyurappa's son younger son Vijayendra will contest from Shikaripura.