In a major setback to the Karnataka BJP, L. Chandrashekar, BJP candidate in the Ramanagaram Assembly constituency, retired from the electoral contest against JD (S) candidate Anita Kumaraswamy, wife of Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy.

By-elections in the constituency will be held on November 3 (Saturday).

Mr. Chandrashekar, son of Congress Legislative Council member C.M. Lingappa, quit the Congress and joined the BJP on October 10, 2018. He was given the BJP ticket to contest against Ms Anita Kumraswamy.

In Vokkaliga dominated Ramanagaram constituency, the BJP has no strong mass base.

Mr. Chandrashekar told presspersons on Thursday that he has returned to the Congress due to alleged non-cooperation of senior BJP leaders including state president B.S. Yeddyurappa, in his electoral campaign.

Mr Chandrashekar said the former BJP Minister C. P. Yogeshwar brought him to the BJP promising all support to him during run-up to the poll campaign. However, not a single BJP leader came to the constituency and campaigned for him, he alleged.

Mr Chandrashekar said he would submit a letter to the Returning Officer of the constituency stating that he is retiring from the contest. He held a press conference along with Congress MP D K Suresh and alleged that “the BJP is a divided house”. .

Today (November 1) is the last day for by-poll campaign in three Lok Sabha and two Assembly constituencies in the State.

Elections would be held on November 3 and counting of votes would take place on November 6.