The Bharath Dharma Jana Sena, an ally of the BJP, today finalised the names of 29 candidates who would be contesting the May 16 assembly polls in Kerala.
The newly formed party, floated recently by the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP), an organisation of the numerically strong backward Ezhava community, had recently reached an agreement under which BDJS was to contest in 37 of the 140 seats at stake.
Announcing the finalisation of its candidates at Alapuzha, BJDS President Thushar Vellappally said candidates for 29 seats had been finalised and remaining eight candidates would be decided in a week's time.
"We have selected the best persons" in the constituencies, Tushar, who is not contesting, said.
Besides BJP and BDJS, Kerala Congress led by former union minister P C Thomas is also part of the NDA in the state.
BJP is aiming to put up a tough fight this time against the ruling Congress-led UDF and LDF spearheaded by CPI-M to open its account in the assembly in the state where it put up a better showing in civic polls held in November last year. So far the party has not been successful both in the assembly and Lok Sabha elections in the state.
