434 candidates woo 46 million Karnataka electorate

In the 2009 general elections, 428 candidates, including 19 women, contested. The BJP won 19, the Congress six and the JD-S three.

Of the 19 women, only J. Shanta of the BJP won, the Bellary ST seat, while Margaret Alva and Tejeswani Gowda of the Congress lost in Uttara Kannada and Bangalore Rural constituencies.

The highest number of contestants in this election, 26, is in Bangalore Central and the least, eight, in Gulbarga reserved (SC), where Union Minister of Railways Mallikarjun Kharge is contesting for the second time to retain the seat.

"Electioneering will pick up this week, as all parties know who is contesting from where after the withdrawal of nominations March 29.

It is also befitting to launch the campaign after the auspicious Ugadi festival Monday, which heralded the New Year in the state, as per the Hindu calendar," Congress spokesman M. Ramchandrappa told IANS here.