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
I dont know what is coastaldigest editor doing when such useless and hatred comments are piblished online to be seen by the world. If you have prestige just maintain your ethics. Worst place to read news. Better i will switch to newspapers where i can read and close the paper instrad of spoiling my brain here.
Haha look at frustration among Muslim guys here ...looks like they are worried as their women will run to court to ask for compensation ...ishtu dina kabbaddi aadiddo adiddu ...convert agirorige banni 4 sigathe mele 72 bere kaadide antha aase huttisi convert maadko ta idru ...their worry is well known ...in coming days cashless transaction will increase and this community mainly dependent on cash based mechanism ..it has it hard and it will be having devastating affect ...matter irode illi ...tax kattade ...sikthu chance antha 3 -4 madwe agi kabbaddi aadtha idru ...adakku hodetha barjari agi biddide mundhe innu joragi bilatte ...if this law is enacted ...they cannot marry so easily ...modle avara community nalli gals sankhye jaasthi ...dowry bere ...moreover their women are getting educated day by day and they are coming in contact with non Muslims ...so ivara bhaya irodu ille....women bere dharmada yuvakara kade kade attract agi hogthare....complete Islam madakke kashta Agathe ...population na pump madodakke iro motor the inner circuit ye kottu hogarhe ...hahahaha ....ene aagli burnol and itch guard sales jaasthi agodralli sandeha ne illa ....one guy commenting about daliths here ..swamy ..neevu saabi ne ...Arab milk shake galu saabi ne. but Arab race ge priority jaasthi ..non Arabs second class yaake ...Arab boys ...
Adu bidi swamy ..if a Hindu gets converted to Islam. Yaava sub sect ge antha seriskoteera ? Simple question ...if that neo convert Hindu decides to marry ...henge babes na allot maadtheera .,even if he is highly educated and believe in Islam ..yaaru hennu kodalla first question barode hanafi sanafi salafi..kulfi..wahabi na antha able hadees antha na ..or deendaar antha na ..free from shirq and bidth idana antja ..jaathiyathe yella dharma dallu ide ...for us India first ...religion next ...
@Pedo...you are spot on..
Court took this step because they can make good business out of it....then every client will go to court to fight for divorce.....I am not saying that the system triple talak at one time is right...that is very bad....as per Islam that should be done on step by step basis at 3 occasions....not at one time pronouncing 3 talaqs.....
Now its courts job to join Modi with his wife....
If that is unconstitutional then why not daliths are as chief of temples , why only one category of Hindus are appointed as archaks.
@ Kannadiga.... can we hear from u what the Quran says about Talaq .....Thanks ....
As a human being we must respect HOLY QURAN and to its principle and policy. no one has a right to go against it or to tamper it's policy.
100% it is the book from the Creator / God not written by any human being.
Now about the INDIAN constitution , it is the fundamental right of every INDIAN citizen to respect and follow. But the opinion taker, judge is playing with the constitution is very unfortunate, before talking any thing against Quran and its contents he must think very deeply study thoroughly. Else the consequence will effect badly on whole country.
Judge is not superior than any such holy book.
Followers may plenty be with different mind set, which we cannot compare with holy book.
Jai Hind !
This verdict is incorrect. Court can not favor hand count females and neglect 99.9 percent of Muslim women. these so called moderate muslim women are either married to non muslim men or gf of non muslims. They have no knowledge of islam and dont know abc of sharia. These modern name sake muslim women are not forced by any one to follow sharia and be Muslims. They are free to switch to another belief. However, they have no right to interfere in the shariat law which can never be changed. Modesty is priority in Islam. Do these women will also fight for nudity as in western countries. They are free to adopt western life and have free life living with anyone they wish. As they are not respecting Talaq issue as per shariat, they should not marry to muslim men. also, they should not wear quarter hijab. These so called moderate ladies are lured by sangh parivar and they feel shame to call themselves as muslims.
Triple TALAQ is not one shot go ....it has certain period to say 3 Talaq's and its better than other man made religious laws .
its GOD's law and he will protect through Men or group of men if tried to interfere ....
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