Bengaluru:  In a midnight announcement, the BJP top brass on late Monday night announced the candidature of 28-year-old young firebrand leader Tejasvi Surya from Bengaluru (South) and Ashwath Narayan from Bengaluru (Rural). Ashwath is a BJP spokesperson and a former MLC who has been associated with the party for years.Like Tejasvi Surya, Ashwath Narayan too was a surprise pick.

Ashwath Narayan will take on sitting MP D.K. Suresh of the Congress. D.K. Suresh is the younger brother of senior Congress leader and Water Resources Minister D.K. Shivakumar.

Both D.K. Suresh of Congress and Ashwath Narayan of BJP filed their nominations at Ramanagara DC office this afternoon.

The BJP, which has extended support to independent candidate Sumalatha, wife of late actor-turned-politician Ambarish in Mandya LS seat, is yet to announce its candidates for Koppal, Raichur and Chikkodi seats, which go to the polls on Apr.23.

As far as Congress is concerned, the party is yet to announce its candidate for Dharwad seat to take on sitting up Prahlad Joshi of BJP, which is also going to the polls on Apr.23.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that the BJP is persuading Molakalmuru MLA and former Minister B. Sriramulu to contest from Koppal seat. But Sriramulu is said to be reluctant to contest the LS polls.