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
KMC manipal ,the worst hospital ever I seen in my life.Bcoz I have experienced personally when taken treatment for my mother.I lost my Mother bcoz of their medical negligency.They are using maximam patient for teach their students.In order to teach maximum level , they are playing with Human life .Doctors and Hospital management does not have any humanity & Kindness in their blood . They are professionally well trained masters for swindling & robbing from the patient no matter what background patience come from.Even after spending such huge amount , we are not only loosing money but also a human life .They are least bothered & don't spare human life. I Have observed and come acrossed mutilple occasion during my Mom admitted in hospital.
I don't like to critize anyone unless we personally experienced. Its a true facts what ever I mentioned .I kindly request every one not to visit KMC manipal if you value your life. What I suffered I don't further anyone to suffer. Hence I amicably requesting anyone not to recommend KMC Manipal. Simple meaning of manipal KMC is nothing but as BURIAL GROUND.
Thank you
Regards
Gokula Ramakrishnan
Manipal doctors are almost God! They're the absolute best. Anyone who disagrees is a fool. See... I said almost God. Not God! They do a great job... But sometimes things r beyond human control. I know the above mentioned doctor! He's a legend. People from all over the world come specifically for him. So whoever spoke badly of the doctor, know that ur karma will hit u back big time!
Hi,
Is there a place/forum/email where we can give complaint on irresponsible behavior from doctors/staffs ?
My father was suffering from throat cancer.Intially it w sas told that he was in begining of 3rd stag, later this person did take in charge of operation took throat out. Again the afteer one hhe had been undergone second operation which eventually took my father health eroded. He died in Mar 2020. This doctors and hospital not good for any treatment worst expereice worst manipal hosptal
in response to #9 nagaraj ,
yes doctors just somehow get into a college , pretend they study for 10-15 years, and once they are done , they wake up in the morning come to the icu , keep your famliy naked , stare at them, make jokes , kill them , then charge you money so they can keep living right ?
the fuck you saying retard. you think they did all that schooling and learning such complex things your stupid puny little brain cant understand even in a century just to fuck with you ? get a fucking life. ppl die. doctors are not gods. just open a fucking mbbs book , see the size of that shit. to become a doctor in a reputed hospital is no joke bhenchod.
if in case you ever get into an accident, dont call the ambulence , just lie there waiting to die. dont keep your hopes on doctors . DUMB FUCK
I lost my mother, these hospitals are not center for treatment, they are business centers and those who treat there are assholes. they are just money minded, i have a video how they spread virus too.
i will upload that very soon. the security bastards won't allow us even if your loved ones are dead inside ICU. Oh! i forgot to mention the ICU Concept in this business is very dangerous they keep patient far from germs in this unit, if you are thinking like this you are wrong. they are keeping their loved ones far so they can't see anyone inside and what is going on.. once my mom informed my dad that they left her naked in front of other patient for a long time it seems . such a shame. they also might have made their family members in front of many to get a job like that. they doesn't even know what is going to happen to the patient and just walks in the morning and evening and learnt story telling very well from primary school.
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