Bengaluru: Former minister Ramanatha Rai will be the Congress pick for Mangaluru Lok Sabha constituency. According to the Congress state leadership, his name has been shortlisted in the party screening committee meeting.

According to the sources six leaders including BK Hariprasad were in the race, but the Congress zeroed in on Rai to challenge sitting MP and BJP leader Nalin Kumar Kateel. Both of them belong to the Bunt community of the region.

“There will be no change in the candidate if there is no last-minute drama. Rai has been asked to start preparations,” said KPCC sources.