Karnataka polls: Two Ministers of BJP govt enter poll fray

Bangalore: Primary and Secondary Education Minister Vishveshwara Hegde Kageri (Sirsi) and Medical Education Minister SA Ramadass (Krishnaraja) entered the fray as the number of nominations for the May 5 Karnataka Assembly polls went up to 254 on Saturday, according to the state electoral authorities. The process for filing nominations commenced with the poll notification being issued last Wednesday. The number of nominations is expected to zoom on Monday, reckoned "auspicious" by a section of the political class, when a large number of candidates are slated to submit papers. The major parties -- BJP, Congress and JDS -- are yet to announce their last list of candidates. BJP has announced names for 175 segments, Congress for 177 and JDS 122. Elections will be held for 224 Assembly seats. PTI