Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa's son Raghavendra will be BJP's candidate for the the Shimoga Parliamentary constituency. Raghavendra's name was cleared after the local BJP unit put pressure on the selection committee.

The chief minister had earlier dropped Raghavendra's name from the Shimoga probables after senior BJP leaders said that the move will encourage 'dynasty politics' in the party. Raghavendra's name will be officially announced at a press briefing in Delhi on Thursday. BJP's south chief Venkaiah Naidu, party state unit president Sadananda Gowda, chief minister Yeddyurappa and Shoba Karandlaje were present at Wednesday's selection meeting. Party general secretary Anant Kumar stayed away from the meeting. A happy Raghavendra said he will do everything to uphold the trust of party workers.

Raghavendra told DNA that he was happy that the district unit had reposed their faith in him. Meanwhile, the JD(S) charged the chief ministerwith violating the model code of conduct by addressing individual letters to beneficiaries of old age pension scheme and said it would complain to the EC about it.

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D Vasudevan/ DNA-Daily News & Analysis Source: 3D Syndication