Karnataka, November 14: BJP has announced the names of 13 rebel MLAs(disqualified) as its candidates for the first list of assembly bypolls in Karnataka. Earlier in the day, 16 of the Congress-JDS rebel MLAs had joined BJP in a grand event in Bengaluru. MTB Nagaraj and R Roshan Baig were, however, not present for the event. But BJP spokesperson later confirmed that MTB Nagaraj has joined BJP.

Names of H Vishwanath, BC Patil, Ramesh Jarkiholi, Pratapgouda Patil, Gopalaiah, R Shankar,  Narayan Gowda, Shivaram Hebbar, Anand Singh, MTB Nagaraj, Shrimant Patil and others were released by BJP today as candidates in the upcoming Assembly bypolls. Some of these MLAs had met BJP national general secretary (organisation) B L Santosh, following the Supreme Court verdict on Wednesday. Supreme Court Upholds Karnataka Speaker's Order, Allows 17 Disqualified MLAs to Contest By-Elections in the State.

Check the full list of candidates:

The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the Karnataka Speaker’s decision and said that the 17 Karnataka MLAs can contest the by-elections in the state. The legislators had moved the top court against the speaker’s decision to disqualify and bar them from contesting elections under the anti-defection law till the current assembly expires in 2023.

Karnataka State Election Commission has already announced that the by-elections to 15 assembly seats will go as per schedule announced earlier. As per the dates, bypolls will be held on December 5. The counting of votes will take place on December 9 and results will be declared on the same day.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 14, 2019 03:17 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).