Congress' Sowmya Reddy likely to take on BJP’s Tejasvi Surya in Bangalore South

BENGALURU: Congress’ central election committee met in Delhi Tuesday and reportedly shortlisted candidates for 15 of the remaining 21 Karnataka Lok Sabha constituencies, including Davanagere, UdupiChikmagalur, and Bangalore South. It has already named seven candidates.
CM Siddaramaiah told reporters that an official announcement is likely on Wednesday. DK Shivakumar, Karnataka Congress president, who was also present at the press briefing, said: “We have finalised tickets for all seats barring one or two.”
Sources say former MP and KPCC working president, BN Chandrappa’s candidacy has been approved for Chitradurga seat, while Jayaprakash Hegde, whose tenure as head of the backward classes commission and who recently switched allegiance from BJP to Congress, has been named as the candidate for the UdupiChikmagalur seat.
Former Congress MLA Sowmya Reddy is expected to contest against BJP’s Tejasvi Surya in Bangalore South, following the withdrawal of her father and transport minister R Ramalinga Reddy from the race. There are also indications that Prabha Mallikarjun, wife of horticulture minister SS Mallikarjun, may secure the ticket for Davanagere.
Congress party has also shown a commitment to promote younger candidates, with reports suggesting that Lakshmi Hebbalkar’s son Mrunal will contest from Belgaum, and PWD minister Satish Jarkiholi’s daughter Pri yanka from Chikkodi. Both Mrunal and Priyanka have already begun campaigning.
As for Gulbarga, AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge’s son-in-law Radhakrishna Doddamani has been cleared. But, sources don’t rule out a last-minute change, as there is a desire for Kharge to contest despite his decision to focus on campaigning nationwide.