Sources said Yadav had demanded from the BJP the five seats which JD(U) had won last time. He had sought six others where party nominees had finished second. The remaining four seats were sought for key state leaders of the party.

The first set of JD(U) nominees includes state president B Somasekhar (Malavalli), sitting MLA J C Madhuswamy (Chikkanayakanahalli), former minister and tribal leader C Veeranna (Madhugiri) and central disciplinary committee chief Mohammad Nazeer Ahmed (Shantinagar). Former defence minister George Fernandes may not be on good terms with Nitish Kumar and Yadav, the party has, nevertheless, nominated his brother Michael Fernandes, a two-term MLA, from Sarvagna Nagar. Mallikarjun Bommai, son of JD(U) founder president S R Bommai, has been fielded from Hebbal. The BJP had recently weaned away Mallikarjun’s brother Basavaraj Bommai to its side.

Though the JD(U) has threatened to field some 100 candidates, the final tally may just cross 70. The JD(U) has deliberately kept its number low in the first list.