BJP to announce first list of candidates on April 8

The BJP's first list of 120 candidates for the coming assembly elections, being held in three phases in May in Karnataka, will be announced either on April 7 and 8, former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa said here today.

"In consultation with party's senior leader and poll-in-charge Arun Jaitley, the first list of 120 candidates will be announced on April 7 or 8," he told reporters here.

The BJP today held its Core Committee meeting at a resort on the city outskirts where leaders of various districts are being summoned for discussion on candidate selection. Jaitley is arriving here on April five.

Yeddyurappa said the process of drafting of the manifesto was in the final stages and added, it would focus on welfare of farmers, poor and women.

The BJP had already promised to give free power supply to farmers' irrigation pump sets if voted to power, besides ensuring credit to all farmers at four per cent interest rate.