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 it is so, why did'nt she came out when the incident took place.
If she was scared then, how she became bold now?
Such kind of blacksheep are found in all religions.
And if the priest is guilty then he must be punished as per law of the land.
I was just trying to think what kind of punishment we can give to this rapist.....first and foremost thing is his wife has been committed suicide...for that he did not get punishment....now raped this girl....she will have to face the society with baby which will come up in the near future....
best punishment for this crime is \hang him till death\""
Backstabbing the nation is the biggest crime. This is apparently not a rape. This is consensual sex. May be that woman is used as a bait by anti nationals.
Dear Viren , After this also do you think he is nationalist ? To become natiolist they should qualify by this type of test? Acche Din Already as promised!!!
.............ne walon ko parameshwari ma ke temple mein kue bitaya....
Looks like the troll,who tell this as their internal matter is hand in gloves with the priest or the blackmailer....he must be grilled
Ha Ha Ha Ha...This is called Viren Joke...Viren please list the people and the Crime which belong to ur Internal onces.So that no one in future will Comment on them.
One is Cleared RAPE and RAPIST is ur Internal.NEXT....
stone him to death if he is really a rapist
shame on u, dont call him priest please for god sake.
look at his face, by seeing his face only we can make out he s big proud, should enquir him properly. he stolen many gold jewellery from temple.
now a days for personal grudge some people will do like this. please enquiry on to this simply putting accused photo without clarification its against the law :)
Mr. Kotian Saheb, those who are raping women and those who are supporting these rapists are National, and those who are opposing these evil act are anti national.
Never mind we are anti national for those Desh aur dharm drohi's.
Women is our mother and our sisters.
this kind of human should be banned to enter temple. really black dot of society,
this should be stone to death if allegation against him are true.
No Bajarangi is speaking exept Kotian ? It is his internal matter,
Does Kotian will give the unborn chid his name as father ?
every religion priest are same. they do one thing and tell us to do other things. they only not following which s must.
Why people started screaming. This is our internal matter. anti nationals need not to interfere.
Temple Priest again....
Those who are intelligent should understand surely its not a divine place were many priest are caught in such evil acts specailly with girls.. If girls are not active & did not recognize the DIVINE option of COVERING their beauty to strangers... More of such incidents will follow in near future by these evil innocent looking foxes...
Now be careful ladies.... you are asking permission to go all the temples. Never mind you can go but go along with your blood relation men. Duniya Kharaab hain. Even you are not safe in temple or mandir. There are many Swamiji's were in India facing these charges. You know very well.
In 1400 years before Prophet Mohammed guided that any women who wish to go outside (such as market, mosque etc.) to accompany their blood relation men.
Inquisitive to see Comments from Kotians and like minded trolls
WAKE UP guys! Cheddi will twist this reality & U honest hindus will accept it as it is... Please dont support the culprits who are involved in crime of our girls.... Protect the girls which ever religions it is... Stop supporting the CULPRITS who alwz twist the realities.
Never FEAR this people - FEAR only the one who created U & ME. When U fear the one who gave us soul... our fear for CREATION will become WEAK>>>
Shameless People....Throw him out of Country.Ban him from India.This is what we call Intolerance.Being a priest in a reputed and Historic place how could he do such shameless act.Innocent girl should get Justice.
Pitty on his 20 year old Daughter.
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