Some MPs re-nominated in northwestern Karnataka

BJP leadership announces Lok Sabha nominees in northwestern Karnataka, with some seats yet to be decided.

The BJP leadership has decided to continue MPs in three of the four seats in northwestern Karnataka.

Ramesh Jigajinagi, Parvatagouda Chandanagouda Gaddigoudar from Bagalkot and Anna Saheb Jolle from Chikkodi have been announced as party candidates in the BJP second list of Lok Sabha nominees.

However, candidates for Belagavi and Uttara Kannada (earlier, Canara) seats are yet to be announced.

Ramesh Jigajinagi made an emotional speech before supporters in Vijayapura on Tuesday that he will stay a common party worker if he were not to be re-nominated. He lashed out at some vested interests, who, he said, were spreading rumours about his health. He denied suggestions that his political protege and relative Govind Karjol was trying to scuttle his chances.

The re-nomination of Mr. Gaddigoudar, a senior Panchamasali leader in the region, never seemed to be in question. The Bagalkot district BJP unit also had few claimants to the party ticket.

There are rumours that the former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar is likely to be fielded as the BJP nominee in Belagavi in the place of Mangala Angadi, MP and widow of the former Union Minister Suresh Angadi.

It may be noted that Mr. Shettar’s son Sankalp Shettar is married to Mangala Angadi’s daughter Shraddha Angadi.