Karnataka: BJP nominates businessman K Narayan to Rajya Sabha

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday announced the name of K Narayan, a well-known businessman in Karnataka, as party’s Rajya Sabha candidate for the vacancy created by the death of Ashok Gasti, who had succumbed to COVID-19 in September.

Bengaluru: The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka Tuesday nominated K Narayan, a businessman, for the bypoll scheduled to be held on December 1.

The seat had fallen vacant after first-time Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Gasti succumbed to COVID-19 in Bengaluru in September.

Tuesday was the last day for the filing of nominations, and if required, the polls would be held on December 1.

Confirming the announcement, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa tweeted, "Dr K Narayan has been picked as the party nominee to fill the Rajya Sabha seat from Karnataka. Heartfelt congratulations to him."

K Narayan, who was born and brought up in Mangaluru belongs to the Devanga community, identified among other backward-class communities in the state.

Narayan is an established publisher of magazines and newspapers. A staunch RSS follower, Narayan also publishes a monthly magazine in Sanskrit, for the last 25 years and edits a Tulu paper.