Mangaluru : The Congress state leadership, in the party screening committee meeting shortlisted the name of former minister Ramanatha Rai to contest from Dakshin Kannada Lok Sabha constituency.

It is also learnt that six leaders including BK Hariprasad were in the race, but the Congress has chosen Ramanath Rai to challenge sitting MP and BJP leader Nalin Kumar Kateel, as both of them belong to the Bunt community of the region.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Sasikanth Senthil also informed that the registration of a case against former minister B Ramanath Rai in connection with the seizure of money during the 2018 Assembly elections will not pose a hurdle for him to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha election.

He further added that if Rai contests the election, then he would have to furnish details of the case along with the affidavit during the filing of nomination.