KUALA LUMPUR: Several ministers and deputies have been axed as Barisan Nasional (BN) candidates for the 15th General Election (GE15).
The big names were caretaker Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim (Arau), Communications and Multimedia Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa (Ketereh), Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Special Functions) Datuk Mastura Mohd Yazid (Kuala Kangsar) and National Unity Minister Datuk Halimah Mohamed Sadique (Kota Tinggi).
Also not in the list are caretaker Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba (Tenggara), Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin (Padang Besar).
Also dropped is Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (Pasir Salak).
In Perlis, BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced, Rozabil Abd Rahman is the coalition's pick for Arau, replacing Shahidan.
Zahidi Zainul has been dropped in Padang Besar, replaced with Zahida Tarik Khan.
In Perak, Mastura has been replaced with Maslin Sham Razman while Khairul Azwan Harun will take over the Pasir Salak seat from Tajuddin.
In Kelantan, BN is fielding state Puteri Umno chier Marzuni Aidila Ariffin at the Ketereh parliamentary seat instead of Annuar, who had held it since the 2013 general election.