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
It clearly shows the fear of Muslims inside the hearts of these Transgenders.
Pandey Kuch bhi..... no one can stop us from consuming beef. Better u and ur followers know it first that its Mangaluru not Dadri. U will not find here any Akhlaq so easily. This is mangaluru jus keep it ur mind
Is is the duty of SK police dept to take action on such anti national group. Hope they will do their duty sincerely by arresting all these anti national deshi drohi terrorist group.
Even they don't have manners,how to attend meeting or to face photographs.
If u really love your mother cow and born to one father ....STOP BEEF EXPORT then come on public stages
No one has forgotten and will never forget....if punished here , it vl be up to a limit, in sha allah one or the other day will reward the wrong doers .....
Oh chaddi anna.. indu dadri ath iregla gotthundu yenklegla gothundu :D hahaha joke malporchi a.. dayeg bhakterna mange malpwer niklu..
All local pakka Gundas, See their face Uneducated, Illiterate people.
All are drinks man....He go to bar eat beef nd drink alcohol... this is his daily routine
Comedy stage shows these unemployed youths are fooled and taken for a joy ride temporarily these people relish the taste of gowmatha please go to any restaurants which serve their lovely tasty gowmatha you will find the majority of visitors to taste their tasty gowmatha are the Hindus and the brahmins I know many brahmins who regularly eat beef so why this natak let these people first solve untouchability racism and inequality within their so called Hindu fold.
Dear Brothers & Sisters of Sanatana Dharma (Hindu),
Kindly keep informing always to your kids, brothers and sisters to stay away from these dangerous elements, now their main goal is to divide our beautiful and blessed India into many pieces like the dirty British/Zionist minded.
Mera Bharat Mahan, Jai Hind.
After the end of dussera. All fake pili gathered together for bread and butter. Every attendees will get INR 500 + Drinks.
BJP imported Advani from Pakistani for their party. All BJP should migrate to Pakistan under Sindh valley for better life.
All Dandapinda gathered together for their bread and butter.
If they are really worried for Cows. Why they don't come forward to stop beef exporting companies?
Because they knows that its run by RSS.
Mun main ram aur dil main kama
try it in mangalore....u will feel the difference and never even say the name cow from your mouths....ha ha....
stay where you are in your limited auqaad..if you cross the limits..then see
People born with land space and time. How can you send part all those things to Pakistan? You can send person to Pakistan but what about the land, space and time he was born with?
Required surgical strikes on all RSS, BD & VHP terrorist training camps in India. We need to keep our Indian land clean from those vermis.
Most of the RSS terrorist become politicians or join police force or become govt employees. May Allah destroy RSS terrorists and keep Muslims safe from them.
ahh, undu oltha posa piece batthini.
We need to send these goons to Nepal....no....I forgot Nepal is a secular country.....wow these goons have no country....
Bela ijjandina bakwaas,,,
Hindu religion is not your fathers property. Hindu religion is full of tolerance and humble . You goons are backed by RSS for their vote bank.
Can anyone talk about the fragrance of Hindusm or to solve hundreds of problems in Hindus., like dowry system , powerty, etc. etc. You people are doing all these functions just to make anti statement against Muslims.
Some of the muslim youth organization became strong because of you people; they are now well organized became strong to fight against you goons.
Somanath the beef exporter is waiting for YOU Guys .. Can you start with him..
Only FOOLS will not understand this old tactics ....
Who the hell are you people to send indians to pakistan or afghanistan... this actors pay tax in crores to our govt, have you chaddis ever paid a single penny to govt or done any good work to society, dont fool the innocent hindu brothers & sisters in the name of religion for your own benifit...... i think this fools bank account has become emty this days
Third class people,
look at there face, people of hell direct ticket.
Jai Hind ........ Bajrangdal Bandh
Moga nokoru......Manishathwa illathanga....inku Popular front rangame sama
Nachige illadavaru .....beligge horata ...rathre sex mathhu beef oota
Manipal Rape case ...soujanya rape case.... bhat sex scandal.... Yara udhharakkagi.....
Hindu ondu...Dalitaranna Kondu
Modi went to Pakistan without informing Indians
All are local goons.
WE WILL NOT FORGET,HELLO HALLI HIDA THIS NOT DADRI,WE MUSSLIM MANGALORE KARNATAKA ,IF YOU DARE DO THE DADRI IN MANGALORE..
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