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
@Viren Kotian .. Mangalore Muslim family showed how to treat our Mangalore guest by inviting her , respecting her and giving a luxurious party to her.... But what your followers did in Mangalore thrown eggs and chappal????
Is it Mangaloreans culture?
Naren
I think it's time to ban fish also. Because fish is vishnus avatar. Which is more holier than cow.
If u try to ban fish. People might throw u eggs and chappels.
Now a days Indian Media has become the barking dogs. Those who feed them, it barks for them.
brave lady.....successful mission
Sumayya ..mostly Pakistan and mini Pakistanis are proud of her ...not true nationalists who say Bharath mata ki jai ..haha...
Haha ...one particular community which got pleased with her for praising Pakistan invited her and served birysni ..nationalist Indians who got agitated with her comments protested .indo-yemenis are not basically tulu nadu people. Haha one chap saying bd and vhp to goto borders ..ley saabi ...first advice that particular community to join army ..they are fit for nothing ...80% of army guys are from our community ...that's why we are giving befitting reply to porkis....one thing is clearly visible more and more bjp and sangh parivar becoming strong ..rashtradrohis are getting agitated and turning to terrorism ..one dargah head from Ajmer when visited Mangalore had said if modi becomes pm .his community becomes terrorists
Great words by Ramya madam. Not only Mandya, entire India is proud of you!
@Viren Kotian.. control your tongue. you people are worse than taliban. but as Ramya ma'am said the number of people like you is very small. Stay away from healthy society. go to hell!
I heard Ramya had food in a Muslim house in Mangalore! who knows they might have served her b***. She is behaving like Pakistani.
I think CD is giving too much priority to this woman. Politicians generally act. But this woman is a professional actress-cum-politician. So expert in acting. Need not to take her statements seriously.
Beauty with brains and courage! A very rare product. We cannot find another such personality in film and politics.
We love you ma'am. You are our real role model. You taught us how to be straightforward always and how to handle crisis.
Very beautiful and timely write up. An eye-opener for hate mongers who keep screaming.
Really nice and impartial write up. Thanks coastaldigest.com for showing the courage to go against the tide and write truth. hats off to you.
Coastal digest ! nice photo !
Ahem... Ahem...
Very meaningful message by sister Ramya. Her courage and honesty is really appreciable.
I fully agree with Ramya. The number of criminals and anti social elements is very small and they are scattered in all religions though no religion encourages crime and anti social activity. We should uphold unity and brotherhood.
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