HDK’s man Swaroop is JD(S) candidate from Hassan; party announces 49 names in 2nd list

BENGALURU: After over two months of dilly-dallying, the Janata Dal (Secular) on Friday announced that H P Swaroop will be its candidate from Hassan. Swaroop is a former zilla panchayat vice-president. This effectively means that Bhavani Revanna is out of the race from the home borough.

At a press conference on Friday evening, jormer CM H D Kumaraswamy, JD(S) state president C M Ibrahim, former minister H D Revanna announced the party’s second list of 49 candidates. While Revanna will be contesting from Holenarsipur, A Manju will contest from Arkalgud and H K Kumaraswamy from Sakleshpur. Saurabhi Anand Chopra, who was denied a Congress ticket, will be contesting on a JD(S) ticket from Saundatti-Yellamma.

Former CM H D Kumaraswamy had been batting for Swaroop’s candidature from Hassan while Bhavani had been insistent that she should be given the opportunity to contest the election. Kumaraswamy was keen that the party should not be seen as dynastic, but both he and his brother H D Revanna had kept insisting that party patriarch H D Deve Gowda will take the final call on the Hassan candidate.

As soon as Kumaraswamy announced that candidature of Swaroop, celebrations broke out at the latter residence in from Hassan.