After considerable delay , “vetting” and  dropping of several sitting MLAs, the BJP on Tuesday night announced the first list of 189 candidates for Karnataka Assembly election slated May 10.

There are 52 new faces in the list. Former Chief Minister Jadish Shettar been denied ticket by the party. There has been a generational change in the selection of nominees for Karnataka. A second list will come soon, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said.

Several MLAs have been dropped and Congress turncoats chosen in the BJP’s first list of candidates, . Chief Minister Bommai will be contesting from Shiggaon seat, which he has held since 2008.

Former chief minister BS Yediyurappa’s son BY Vijayendra is the party’s pick from his father’s seat Shikaripura. Yediyurappa had earlier hinted that his son may contest against Siddaramaiah, Congress heavyweight and Leader of the Opposition in Assembly, in Varuna constituency.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP Chief JP Nadda, Chief Minister Bommai and Union Minister Pralhad Joshi attended the BJP election committee meeting here on Monday. Congress and JDS have released lists of their candidates ahead of the BJP. Filing of nomination is  to begin on April 13. Former Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar on Tuesday said he has been asked by the BJP central leadership not to contest the May 10 Assembly elections, to which he has informed the party top brass of his displeasure with the decision.

Shettar, a sitting MLA from Hubli-Dharwad Central, said he has told the leadership that he would contest election again, and requested them to give him an opportunity. He told them that their decision was not acceptable to him and urged the party top brass for its reconsideration.