In a surprising development, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has selected Prof M Nagaraja as its candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha election. Nagaraja, who holds a PhD and is a member of the Kuruba community, is positioned to be the only BJP representative from this group in Parliament. His nomination comes in the wake of Siddaramaiah's resignation as Chief Minister, a significant Kuruba leader. The choice of Nagaraja, along with OBC candidates Raghu Kautilya (Madiwala) and Lingaraj Patil (Lingayat) for Council elections, reflects the BJP's strategy to solidify its core support among Lingayats while appealing to OBCs. Political analysts indicate that this move is part of a broader effort to expand the BJP's influence in southern Karnataka, particularly among the Vokkaligas, following the political shifts caused by Siddaramaiah's exit. The BJP's current strength in the Assembly suggests a strong likelihood of success in these elections, although the Congress party still boasts formidable Kuruba leaders.