Mysuru: Even as the Election Commission of India (ECI) is yet to announce the schedule for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, State BJP Chief and former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa is said to be in constant touch with the party’s National Chief Amit Shah on finalising the list of party candidates.

The first list of candidates is likely to be released on Mar.15. While sitting MP Pratap Simha is likely to get the ticket again from Mysuru-Kodagu, the names of 12 candidates has been shortlisted for Chamarajanagar.

Ultimately, there are three candidates left in the race for Chamarajanagar seat which is reserved for SC category. They are former T. Narasipur MLA Bharathi Shankar, former IAS officer K. Shivaram and well-known advocate of the city S. Arunkumar.

While Bharathi Shankar has the support of State BJP leaders, K. Shivaram is said to have the blessings of party leaders at Delhi and Arunkumar has local support. Amidst the race for Chamarajanagar ticket, senior BJP leader and V. Sreenivasa Prasad is said to have the final say in the selection of the candidate, it is learnt.

The BJP, which has never won the Chamarajanagar seat, is making all efforts to wrest the seat from the Congress this time. Meanwhile, Sreenivasa Prasad said that it is the BJP high command which will announce the party candidate from Chamarajanagar. Maintaining that he has given his opinion to senior party leaders, he however said that there was no doubt the party would put up an able and strong candidate to take on the Congress.