Bengaluru: The Congress and BJP will lock horns on the electoral battleground again in less than a fortnight in Karnataka, as the stage is set for the second phase of elections in the 14 remaining Lok Sabha seats on Tuesday.
It is going to be a straight fight between the ruling Congress and BJP in Parliamentary segments in the northern districts. The JD(S) is not contesting in these seats and is supporting its National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partner -- the BJP.
The state has a total of 28 Lok Sabha constituencies. The first phase of polling in 14 seats in most of the southern and coastal districts was held on April 26.
A total of 227 candidates -- 206 men and 21 women -- are in the fray for the second phase.
More than 2.59 crore voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in 28,269 polling stations where voting will take place between 7 am to 6 pm.
The segments where elections will be held on Tuesday are: Chikkodi, Belgaum, Bagalkot, Bijapur, Gulbarga, Raichur, Bidar, Koppal, Bellary, Haveri, Dharwad, Uttara Kannada, Davangere and Shimoga.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, BJP had swept all these 14 seats, defeating Congress and JD(S), which were in alliance and ruling the state then.
Having scored a thumping victory in the Assembly elections last year, the Congress now appears determined to put up a strong show.
Karnataka is the most important state for the BJP in south India as it's only here that it has held power in the past.
Speaking to PTI, Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Meena said adequate security arrangements have been made for Tuesday's polling.
"Around 1.45 lakh polling officials have been deployed across the 14 constituencies. In addition, 35,000 civil police personnel, 65 companies of Central Paramilitary forces and armed police of other states will be deployed for the polling day," he said.
Besides this, 4,000 micro-observers will also be on duty and 17,000 polling stations will be covered by webcasting, he added.
Davangere has the maximum number of 30 candidates, followed by 23 in Shimoga and Raichur has the least number - eight.
Former Chief Ministers Basavaraj Bommai (Haveri) and Jagadish Shettar (Balgaum), Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi (Dharwad) and Bhagwanth Khuba (Bidar) -- all from BJP; Congress' Geetha Shivrajkumar (Shimoga) -- wife of actor Shivrajkumar and daughter of former CM S Bangarappa and AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge's son-in-law Radhakrishna Doddamani (Gulbarga), are among the prominent names in the fray.
Also in the contest are MP and veteran BJP leader B S Yediyurappa's son B Y Raghavendra, suspended party leader and former Deputy CM K S Eshwarappa -- both from Shimoga, former Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri and ex-Minister B Sreeramulu of BJP from Uttara Kannada and Bellary respectively and retired IAS officer G Kumar Naik of Congress from Raichur.
Stakes are high for several Ministers in this phase with their children in fray.
Sons of Ministers Laxmi Hebbalkar and Eshwar Khandre - Mrinal Ravindra Hebbalkar and Sagar Khandre - are contesting from Belgaum and Bidar respectively, while daughters of Ministers Satish Jarkiholi and Shivanand Patil -Priyanka Jarkiholi and Samyukta Patil- are in contention in Chikkodi and Bagalkot respectively.
Prabha Mallikarjun, wife of Minister S S Mallikarjun and daughter-in-law of veteran Congress leader Shamanur Shivashankarappa, is in the fray from Davangere.
The Congress' performance in the elections, especially in the second phase which covers almost all Lingayat-dominated districts, is crucial, as the party did not win one of them in 2019, and to also check whether the grand old party has managed to retain the support of a section of Lingayats -- considered as the BJP's core vote-base -- which seemed to have somewhat shifted towards it in the 2023 Assembly polls.
The Lok Sabha election is being seen as a big test of sorts for Congress state unit chief D K Shivakumar, who has made no secret of his ambition to become chief minister, amid speculations of change in guard mid-way of the Assembly term. The stakes are also high for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, as victory in this election is seen as key to strengthening his hands, analysts say.
It is also seen as a kind of a "litmus test" for state BJP president B Y Vijayendra, who has the onerous task of helping the party retain its supremacy in the Lok Sabha polls, by regaining its traditional Lingayat vote-base.
Ensuring a BJP sweep is paramount for the son of veteran leader B S Yediyurappa, to consolidate his position and silence critics who have questioned his selection to the post, overlooking seniors and seasoned hands.
The ruling Congress is mostly banking on the implementation of its populist five guarantee schemes while the BJP seems to be leveraging the "Modi factor" to the hilt.
Comments
Look at the Khazi,
I remember back in mid 2000 he was based in BC road or Bantwal somewhere....
MAY ALLAH GUIDE HIM TO THE RIGHT PATH OF ISLAM
Racing to narga.
Race to narga.
Foolish people.
Tussle for power and Money!
These Khazis and Thangals must focus on other issues of the community instead of wasting time in such stupid subjects, Dargha means business nothing else.
@Sini Mol.
It is permitted to enter women into masjid in Islam. In gulf countries there is a separate place devided in the masjid for women to pray. It is common in all the public places that provides women a separate place, like bus seat or in the a
when will Muslims abandon darga which has no place in Islam ?
Haha Fooolish People.. Let the wrath of Allah be on the Grave Worshipers who is not ready to accept the truth.
Allah Messenger (SAWS) you will indeed follow the way sof those you, hand span by hand span, and an arms length after another. Even if they enter the lizards hole,you will follow them. We (the sahaba) asked is it the jews and christians? He replyed who else!.
One more thing
Enklena boka niklena dever de difference ijji. Enkelna dever kulder...Niklena dever Jaider - Unknown
Please ponder!!
@Sini Mol,
For your kind information, Islam not at all prohibited women to enter Masjid. I can quote many hadith about this. Some of the Pseudo Muslims in our country opposing this. They are doing opposite what Islam says. E.g. Women are not allowed
Dear
Believers NEVER despairs, They already KNOW the FITNA (trials) of this ERA... and Most of the MUSLIMS never understand such FITNA unless they FIRMLY GRIP their FAITH in ALLAH. (They will never bow or ask with the dead or to get barakah from the GRAVEs)
BELIEVERS SOLELY believe & Depend on ALLAH alone.... ALLAH is enough for them. May ALLAH include us in that Group.
They already know everything is with the permission of ALLAH, They already know cos the Prophet Muhammad pbuh said that a time will come that the BELIEVER will be very FEW but MUSLIMs will be a lot...
This TUSSLE is for the GOOD... Most of the MUSLIMs understood the POWER OF MONEY. They REALISED Who is working for the MOney and who is working for the FAITH.
RESPeCT the Auliyas the way prophet Muhammad pbuh taught us. Not the way which was never seen in the times of the SAHABAS... and the 3 generations... We might fall into SHIRK (Associating partners with ALLAH) . May ALLAH protect us from falling into SHIRK unknowingly...
Alibaba Chalees chor
I heard that Womens are not allowed to enter the Mosque.But i could see ladies Walking around the Mosque in last Picture.Can any one tell me is there any different in this Mosque.
Im a regular follower of Dr.Zakir Naik where he says in his speech that it is permissible for womens to enter the Mosque to pray with Allah. As Prophet pbuh wife's used to go.But in Kerala Women are not allowed.Muslims follow same Quran then why there is two rules in Islam. Please explain.
Shameless creature.....money speaks....
Look at khazi's face he doesn't like to see their face (Elected Peoples) which means he is not satisfied with them
PRESIDENT FOR CENTER OF SHIRK...????? NAOOZUBILLAH.
Any credibility left with khazi Khoora Thangal?
finally its end, congrats to newly elected president do good development to the dargah.
It is very sad to see that our people worshipping the thieves.
Who is this khazi and other leaders in ullal? All these people are mallus. They dividing the people in Mangalore.
Add new comment