Mangaluru: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced its list of 189 candidates for the upcoming Karnataka elections, with a few unexpected changes in the Dakshina Kannada district. The announcement came on Sunday, with a few major surprises in store for the people of Karnataka.

One of the most noteworthy changes is the ticket given to Bhagirathi Murulya from Sullia, leaving the incumbent minister Angara out of the race. This decision has come as a shock to many as Angara was considered a strong candidate in the region.

In another unexpected move, the BJP has given the ticket to Ex-G.P. Member Satish Kumpala from Mangalore (Ullala). This decision has raised eyebrows, as Kumpala was not seen as a frontrunner for the ticket.

Former Zilla Panchayat president Asha Thimmappa Gowda has also been given the ticket from Puttur, leaving sitting MLA Sanjiva Mathandur out of the race.

However, all other sitting MLAs in the Dakshina Kannada district have been given tickets again. Vedavyasa Kamath from Mangalore South, Dr. Bharat Shetty from Mangalore North. Rajesh Naik from Bantwala, Umanath Kotyan from Moodbidri, and Harish Poonja from Belthangady will again be BJP candidates.

The BJP's decision to field new faces in some constituencies has come as a surprise to many, especially in Dakshina Kannada district, which is considered a BJP stronghold.

The Karnataka elections are scheduled to be held on May 1, and the results will be declared on May 13.

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New Delhi (PTI): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday registered a case to probe recovery of 79 crude bombs in poll-bound West Bengal, officials said.

The move came following a directive by the Union Home Ministry in this regard, they said.

In pursuance to the home ministry's order, the anti-terror agency on Sunday registered a case, which was originally filed at Uttar Kashi police station, Bhangar division, Kolkata on Saturday, and took up the investigation, an NIA spokesperson said in a late night statement.

"The case pertains to recovery of 79 crude bombs and other incriminating materials by Kolkata police, which were being stored at a spot, thereby endangering human life and property," the spokesperson said.

Earlier in the day, the Election Commission had directed the West Bengal Police to launch a special drive to arrest those involved in illegal manufacturing of crude bombs in the poll-bound state, an official said.

It asserted that all cases related to the making of any such explosive would be probed by the National Investigation Agency, the official said.

The directive came after the police recovered a large number of crude bombs from the house of a person, allegedly a TMC worker, at Bhangar in South 24 Parganas district, days ahead of the second and final phase of the assembly polls in the state.

The explosives were recovered during a search at the residence of Rafikul Islam following specific inputs, the official said.

The poll panel also issued a warning to senior police officers across the state over any lapse in maintaining law and order before the April 29 polling.

The first phase of the assembly elections in West Bengal was held on April 23, while the second phase will take place on April 29. Votes will be counted on May 4.

A record 93.19 per cent turnout has been recorded in the first round of polling. Bhangar will vote in the second phase.