Bengaluru: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president B.S. Yeddyurappa has said that K.S. Eshwarappa, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, would be fielded from Shivamogga.

Speaking to presspersons in Shikaripur town on Saturday, Yeddyurappa said that the party national leadership has also decided to make S. Rudre Gowda, president of the party district unit and aspirant for ticket from Shivamogga constituency, an MLC.

The selection of candidate for Shivamogga city had become a tricky issue for the BJP leadership. A delegation of followers of Mr. Gowda met Yeddyurappa recently and requested that the party leadership provide an opportunity to their leader. A few leaders even said that if Eshwarappa was offered ticket, the party would be defeated.

During his visit to Shivamogga city recently, BJP national president Amit Shah held a meeting with Eshwarappa and Yeddyurappa during which the issue of candidature was discussed. It was then decided that Eshwarappa would contest from Shivamogga segment.