Bengaluru:  Very much keen on returning to power in Karnataka, the BJP, which has considered the State as a gateway to power in the South, is likely to announce its first list of candidates for the May12 Assembly polls at 8.30 pm today.

Sources said that the BJP Election Committee is to hold another round of meeting with the Party’s National President Amit Shah in New Delhi this evening, before releasing the first list of candidates.

The list will have the names for about 80 seats and almost all sitting MLAs and party candidates, who came close to winning in the last Assembly polls, find mention in the list, the sources added.