BJP releases first list of 72 candidates for Karnataka assembly elections, Yeddyurappa to contest from Shikaripura

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday announced the first list of 72 candidates for the upcoming assembly elections in Karnataka. BJP's CM candidate B S Yeddyurappa​ would be contesting from Shikaripura.

The announcement was made in a late evening press conference by Union Minister JP Nadda.

Here is the full list:

Karnataka will go to polls in single phase on May 12 and the counting of votes will take place on May 15. The term of the current 224-member legislative Assembly ends on May 28. 

The elections are being seen politically crucial for the ruling Congress as well as the BJP as Karnataka is the only major state where the Congress is in power at present and retaining it is crucial for the party morale ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The BJP is making a concerted bid to unseat the Congress.