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
If you study Hinduism in deep you will get mad. Like
1.Brahma got married to his daughter
2.Draupadi had affair with Karna.
3.Shiva chopped one head of Brahma
4.Shiva used to take ladies avatar for fun.
5.Ayyappa is the son of shiva & Vishnu.
6.Hanuman got married to crocodile.
7.Shiva failure to recognise his son ganapathy.
In reality following hinduism is like worshipping everything. Creator and his creations.
If you go for study, you will come to know that its an imaginary story not real like cartoons.
Ram is based on kaalpanic story of Valmiki(Thief)
In Sri Lanka there is no evidence of Rama. Its only available in Nagpur.
Good comedy serial the new tele serial mungere lal key haseen sapnee India never sleeps with all such comic episodes.
Dis guy is begging to change the religion hahaha....i dont understand y all saffron groups are so worried abt Muslim.
o barking dogs go to china and pak boarders area save our country...
ONLY Hindus converting to Islam. They know that Islam
IS TRUE religion.
No educated Muslim will Convert to Hinduism. Its impossible.
So stop dreaming. Look vhp's family members might converted to Islam.
Look at ur own house first.
Ondu Manga ninthu yeno bagulatthe adanna kelalu saviraru Mangagalu Kulithive.Yentha Vipariyaasa kanri.
What a Joke sir ji.
We dont want to be with you people in Jahannam.You people carry on.We are happy as a Muslim.
Such a huge majority of population....don't know why they are afraid of minorities....
So now on everyone go and live in jungle....
Where to find ravana....
Should ignore wife and kids in jungle....and can't recognize own kids?..
Really difficult task ....
And what about other gods..... forget them....come on
Rama couldnt save his own wife sita. How can he save u
Barking dog first you try to secure by yourself & your leaders those who are depend under government security.... Muslims dont need protection from you, Alhamdulillah we have one god Allah to protect us...
People like you are 2% in this country barking to spoil the peace & harmony between society.
Do not try to check patience of your own community peace lovers of society... Soon time will come where your bajarangis will start searching to enter space like rats... ha ha ha...
those hindu community k liye kalank hai.... True Hindu tho o hai jo peace lover hai....
@ Senior Vishwa Hindu Parishad Leader... who are you to protect others? You Cannot protect Yourself unless Allah wills... You are the black sheep of Hindu Dharma Coz your thoughts itself indicates that you are an atheist. You don't belong to any religion,
I wonder who will protect you fromAllah if you did not repent and accept Muhammad (peace be upon him) as your prophet
A 'Jain' asking 'Muslims' to convert to 'Hinduism'. Excellent example for communal harmony in feku (i dont mind if you read 'e' as 'a') age.
when Mr Jain converted to Hinduism ? just ignore his lose talk
To know how God created all that exists....
The Non Muslims should read THE QURAN... U will come to understand who is following what.. (U can try thequranproject online)
And to follow Prophets of God ... It needs God's blessing...
Some hate mongers are missing and they even cannot identify whats good and whats bad to the society.
To honest people on EARTH... Just ask once \oh the one who put Soul in me ... GUIDE me...\"
U will surely SEE the real colors of LIFE of who is with whom, if your INTENTION is right... TRY IT.."
Prophet Adam (peace be upon him). Was the first human being came to the earth. So by all means all are in this world should be Muslims. So now if all Hindus revert to Islam we will give you security to eat beef.
Mr. Beans & Mr. Badane of our Mangalore. Please be aware that most of good hindus are not following these goons. Jobless chaddis..oh sorry panties. They could able to gather only this much crowd. Beary nakulna madmed ned dhla jaasti jana barpundu maarre.
mental manja, now the statement clearly says if muslims dont shun islam then they are under threat ?
i cant stop laughing hahahahaha, we dont need the protection of chaddis.
OUR PM has joined with paksitan, will you boycott our PM .
Bloody hypocrites.
This Bullshit has nothing to do... Spreading venom in the society.. and useless govt continuing their silence towards these Sangah Parivaar, Why the Govt can't ban the anti social elements..
Islam is such a golden religion, don't you ever think that in your dreams....
India Ninna Ammena astiya?? Dirty people with dirty culture.
Shia Sunni ok! Dalit, Jain, Brahmins yaake? Y this Kolaveri D thaatha?
Quote\ Jain went on to claim........if they want to remain in India\"
unquote
May be Jain needs treatment in Mental Hospital as he says the above sentence to Hindu brothers & sisters which is impossible and he is fully aware of it.
then why barking ...... ?"
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