Karnataka Rajya Sabha race heats up with former PM Deve Gowda contesting

Eranna Bhimappa Kadadi and Ashok Jasti - one Lingayat and one from the OBC - were named as the BJP's candidates for the upper house leaving the state unit stunned

Karnataka threw up two surprises as the state finalised its candidates for the upper house: former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda threw his hat in the ring although he had earlier said he was going to retire from politics; and the state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was left stunned by the nomination of two candidates from the state for the Rajya Sabha who never figured in the recommendations sent by the unit.

Deve Gowda can win the seat only if he gets the support of the Congress from which his party, the Janata Dal Secular, has been estranged