Vijayendra to contest from Varuna seat

BENGALURU: Vijayendra, son of BJP Chief Ministerial candidate BS Yeddyurappa, would take on Dr Yatheendra, son of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Varuna constituency in Mysuru district. State BJP Core Committee is said to have finalised the name of Vijayendra as the party candidate.

The committee, which met at a luxury resort on the outskirts of the city on Friday, decided to recommend Vijayendra’s name to contest from Varuna. There were 16 aspirants for the ticket from Varuna, BJP sources said. It was a unanimous decision as Vijayendra is being seen as the best choice to put up a strong fight against Dr Yatheendra.

The party has cleared the name of Preetam Nagappa for the ticket to contest from Hanuru in Chamarajnagar district. Former minister V Somanna, too, was a strong contender for the ticket from Hanuru.

BJP launches LED raths

BJP state president BS Yeddyurappa launched more than 100 campaign raths (vehicles) fitted with LED screens for poll campaign in the Karnataka. The raths, fitted with public address systems and cutouts of BS Yeddyurappa and PM Narendra Modi will criss-cross villages in every constituency to highlight the alleged failures of Siddaramaiah government in the state, and educate about the welfare programmes launched by Modi.