In pictures: Heavyweight candidates in Karnataka assembly elections

The present chief minister of Karnataka since 2013 and also the member of Indian National Congress.He has been the leader of opposition in the 224-member state assembly.He is representing Badami and Chamundeswari district constituency.

BJP's chief ministerial candidate B S Yeddyurappa is very confident of the victory from Shikaripura constituency (Shimoga district).

In Shimoga district, Shikaripura is dominated by the Lingayat community to which Yeddyurappa belongs.

In one of his campaign trail in Karnataka, he said that he is entrusting the constituency to his supporters while he campaigns for BJP across Karnataka.

He also added, ''There is no problem for me in Shikaripura. I will win by 40,000 - 50,000 votes. I will go there whenever I get some free time from campaigning in other parts of the state."

Janata Dal (Secular) MLA H D Revanna faces charges of kidnapping related to sexual abuse allegations against his son, Prajwal Revanna.

 

File photo of HD Kumaraswamy.

Jagadish Shivappa Shettar was the 21st Chief Minister of Karnataka. He was sworn in as Chief Minister on July 12, 2012. His tenure as Chief Minister was short lived as he resigned on the May 8 2013.He is representing the Hubli Central district constituency where he is quite popular.

File photo of KS Eshwarappa.

Scheduled Tribes leader and Lok Sabha member from Ballari, B Sriramulu is second only to B S Yeddyurappa in Karnataka's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).He is a young member of BJP and has immense support from the Tribal community.He will contest the polls from Molakalmuru and Badami.

Indian National Congress member DK Shivkumar filed his nomination from the Kanakapura assembly constituency. The Powerful Vokaliga leader currently holds the position of 'Energy Minister' in the government led by Mr Siddaramaiah. He declared that he is an Educationist and social worker by profession.

The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President is the longest-serving president of the KPCC and a strong contender for the chief minister’s post. He is also the former Home Minister of Karnataka and thus expected to attract many seats on his side.He is seeking election from Koratagere, Tumakuru district.

Ramalinga Reddy, the home minister of Karnataka is the member of Indian National Congress.He is playing with the fact that he is a popular face for both Jayanagar and BTM Layout. He won the Jayanagar constituency four times and then moved to BTM Layout for her daughter to conduct from Jayanagar.He will contest the polls from BTM Layout.