Bengaluru: The Congress and BJP will lock horns on the electoral battleground again, in less than a year, in Karnataka as the stage is set for voting in the first phase in 14 Lok Sabha seats on Friday.
It's going to be a straight fight between the ruling Congress and the BJP-JD(S) combine unlike the Assembly elections in May last year which witnessed a triangular contest among the three parties.
The state has a total of 28 Lok Sabha constituencies. The second phase of polling in the remaining 14 seats is on May seven.
A total of 247 candidates -- 226 men and 21 women -- are in the fray for the first phase in most of the southern and coastal districts.
More than 2.88 crore voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in 30,602 polling stations where polling will take place between 7 am to 6 pm.
While the Congress is contesting in all 14 seats, BJP has fielded nominees in 11 and its alliance partner JD(S), which joined the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in three -- Hassan, Mandya and Kolar.
Besides the three, the segments where elections will be held on Friday are: Udupi-Chikmagalur, Dakshina Kannada, Chitradurga, Tumkur, Mysore, Chamarajanagar, Bangalore Rural, Bangalore North, Bangalore Central, Bangalore South and Chikkballapur.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Congress and JD(S), which were in alliance and ruling the state then, had secured just one seat each in these 14 segments. The BJP had won in 11 and ensured the victory of a party supported independent candidate in Mandya.
Having scored a thumping victory in the Assembly elections, 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 had held power in the past. 'Its alliance partner JD(S) is fighting to remain politically relevant, after the Assembly poll drubbing,' a political analyst said.
The Old Mysore region is the Vokkaliga heartland and parts of it have been the traditional bastion of the JDS. However, the current elections are a battle for survival for JDS.
According to Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Meena, 1.4 lakh polling officials will be on duty for the first phase.
Besides them, 5,000 micro-observers, 50,000 civil police personnel, 65 companies of Central Parliamentary Force and State Armed Police force of other States will also be deployed for security.
All the 2,829 polling stations of Bangalore Rural parliamentary constituency will be webcast, Meena said.
'This is as per the request of our returning officers and observers; so we have given more than double the Central parliamentary force for Bangalore Rural constituency. Seven companies of Central paramilitary forces have been inducted at the constituency since April 22,' he told reporters on Wednesday.
In fact, out of the total 30,602 polling stations in the first phase, 19,701 will be webcast, and 1,370 covered via CCTVs, he said.
Chikkaballapur has a maximum number of 29 candidates, followed by 24 in Bangalore Central, and Dakshina Kannada has the least number - nine.
JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy from Mandya, his brother-in-law and noted cardiologist C N Manjunath from Bangalore Rural on a BJP ticket, erstwhile Mysuru royal family scion Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar from Mysore, also from the BJP, and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar's brother and MP D K Suresh of Congress from Bangalore Rural, are among the prominent candidates in the fray in the first phase.
Also in the fray are BJP MP Tejasvi Surya from Bangalore South against Minister Ramalinga Reddy's daughter Sowmya Reddy of Congress, Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje on BJP ticket from Bangalore North against former IIM Bangalore professor M V Rajeev Gowda of Congress.
The Congress' performance in the elections, especially in the first phase which covers almost all Vokkaliga-dominated districts, is being seen as a big test of sorts for its state unit chief 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.
Stakes are also high for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, as victory in particular in his home turf—Mysore and Chamarajanagar—is seen as key for strengthening hands, analysts say.
For the JD(S) and its state chief Kumaraswamy, the task is cut out -- to prove that the regional party is still a force to reckon with, particularly in the Vokkaliga dominated Old Mysuru or South Karnataka region.
Both Shivakumar and Kumaraswamy are Vokkaligas, and are engaged in a fierce turf war to consolidate their clout over the dominant community.
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 elections.
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 for the post, overlooking seniors and seasoned hands.
The ruling Congress is mostly banking on the implementation of its populist five guarantee schemes. The BJP and JD(S) seem to be leveraging the 'Modi factor' to the hilt.
Comments
Dear Viren there is nothing hell in your religion, thats the reason they are coming towards islam
very funny.
Dear All,
Please note few of these points about Islam.
Wish you all the best. May God bless you with happiness and good health always and you lead a happy life forever. Our prayers are with you. But try to keep away from unnecessary things and lead a simple life.
Bro.. its other way round. Hindu girls are falling love with handsome guys and beautiful religion
This is called true Islam. When 27 Karsevaks like Balbir Singh can embrace Islam , you just imagine the power of Islam.
Mix equal quantity of love and jihad in a cup and drink it...
and dont forget to buy burnol to cool off your bloody b***
Read the quran with translated original (not chaddis version). U Will end up in Reverting Islam.. In Sha Allah.
In the Quran the chilling & fearful explanation of Hell fire & HELL is there to those who reject ONE CREATOR and associate partners with him and worship all those demi-gods.
LOVE of His True last messenger & ONE CREATOR is the only way to escape from the HELL fire and attain HEAVEN.
JIHAD – constant struggle with oneself to be obedient to God, struggle (Jihad) against oppression of all kinds unleashed by enemies of humanity.
It is human nature to search for truth and aspire purity rejecting all manmade, false, ungodly beliefs & customs. No force on the earth can stop this and that is the reason thousands are attracted on daily basis to the Religion of Peace & Truth - ISLAM.
How long will YOU ignorants blame love jehad.. We request you to OPEN the QURAN (the quranproject) online and check what is written about love jehad... Unless YOU learn about quran .... YOU are following the RSS commandments and singing the same tone (it's love jehad) since years... When U guys open up your God given intellect.. Dont be SLAVES of RSS ... Use your intellect to know WHY PEOPLE are REVERTING to ISLAM... instead of blaming and licking the politicians and the haters of Islam.
This all happens because you bloody morons donot understand what is love and care all about.
Go drink sleep on streets, make your wife & childrens (some people dont have that too) wait home, come home next morning once again in Bar... Your life begins and Ends in BAR & Restaurent.
Dear Brother Study about Islam than you come to know what the hell is there in Islam (Alhamdulillah).
Congrats Shoaib
There are many cases like this. They all get converted into islam. There is racket to do conversion. Should stop this.. Stop Love Jihad
Stockholm syndrome by love jihad.. She may not feel trapped now. Later she feels that
Media highlighting only if anybody comes to Islam.. Pleasing minority
We wont care, if she got converted into christianity or other religion. Media giving unwanted prominants to some rubbish news. They are making controversy
Is that an important news
This is called love jihad. These muslim men make friendship with beautiful Hindu girls, make them fall in love with them. After wedding blackmail them to become Muslims. Need to put an end to this ugly practice at the earliest. What the hell is there in that religion.
Add new comment