Bengaluru, Nov. 25 -- Former India fast bowler Venkatesh Prasad yesterday emerged as the lone contender in the race for the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) Presidency after the names of two prominent aspirants, K.N. Shanthkumar and Senior Administrator Vinay Mrutyunjaya, were absent from the final list of validly nominated candidates released by the Electoral Officer.

The unexpected omissions dramatically reshaped the electoral landscape, coming on a day when Kalpana Venkatachar, the only other major contender, reportedly announcing her withdrawal from the race to the President's post, stating she did not wish to contest against Prasad, whom she described as a stalwart.

The scrutiny of nominations, conducted under the supervi...