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
sadhya obba gand maaro antha halalilla hahaha ... see kactho avashya kathene illa ... mirchi ittu maja togollode nam passion ... even though u say ignore this guy , indirectly u r giving me imprtance and 100% madrasa product aada ninge mirchi ittange aagide , frustraion visible man .. muah ... i like it ilike it ... hogu maga chill beer haaki gand maaro :)
Narianna nige puku puku agee, hotte yalli tumba nowagta ide.
Bhrahmana ottige iddu ade buddi kalisi kottidare.
E narianna nige, joru orita ide. ade 2 points heli Udda prabhanda barediddaney.
Barnol hacchiko appa. Ninninda agalla
These are the people who desire death more ardently than social evils desire their life.
No tracks required, no comparison.
Keep it up PFI
Masha Allah, Nice program. thanks CD for good coverage.
Good coverage.. good gathering.. Great.. Keep it up..
Bogoluwa Naayi Kacchu dilla.. Ade thara illobba bogaltha iruthaney.. So guys chil maro and ignore such barkers.!
Nice pictures...all secular people must b united for save our democracy
We want honest India, Really appreciate these people doing good work to bring success for democracy instead of corrupt fake people
sure they will do good.
howdu kanappa azeeza ,Hitler kaala dalle azeeza huttidda , agle kabbaddi adthidda ... sumne koorappa :) , Hitler never believed in collective decision . he was dictator boss . hogappa ammi's biryani batting maadu .. hogappa kanda
Jai PFi
Masha Allah Very Good Program...
Abraar...its very good that you left PFI...coz there is no place coward in PFI...
Well Done P.OP.U.L.A.R F.R.O.N.T O.F I.N.D.I.A
Down Down R.S.S of ISRAEL
JAI PFI JAI HO JAI HINDUSTAN
Anna Naren.........HITLER kooda ide tara mathnadtha idda....... avna avasthe kanake neen huttirlilla......................
Masha allah..well organised and disciplined Programe..keep it up brothers.....
Very disciplined and impressive March.
Even though the permission was denied at Ullal in the last movement, the organizers did not bend and took permission at the heart of the city and made the program huge success.
Truly, appreciated your efforts.
What narendra said 90% correct. Same people will go every where and 50% crowd comes from kerala .I joined Pfi in 2008 and left within 2009.reason is simple .leaders are not capable to address real issues .empowerment is not baNd set movement .community must concentrate on uplifting up education level in our community and have community development plan .not on communal lines .you people are directly targeting rss and pm .it's unfair .even though Christian organisations don't like rss. They never indulge in direct confrontation. When u get into direct confrontation then real problem arise. Innocents will suffer with this type of act sir .no educated will support this type of movement which drives people towards extremism. I suggest boys participating is fine .but be careful about after affects .funders are based outside and Innocents suffer .shafi Bella re is the best example of brain wash .instead of this ..give importance for jobs and education in our community .when sdpi met Kumar swamiji it shows how immaturely we are handling.
WELL disciplined march, keep it up, we want honest democracy in our good Bharat, not fake people ,
honest India will flourish soon, irrespective of caste color and religion,
I support honest people
@ Naren.. its funny tht you are sitting in singapore and pi**ing in your pants...
Ma Sha Allah Well Organised And Disciplined Program
ee taraha march maadi saangh parivar na and israel na mugistivi andukondire adakkintha big joke bere illa .just two points here .
1.there is no discipline in the crowd .pics are visible .just see how people without discipline moving and also when there is a march going on track olagade barbardu ... yenu madakke agalla fish market buddhi sathru hogalla :)
2. regarding march , they are not local guys .where ever you go these guys will be there .same boys . few kl registration gaadi will come with all band sets .papa local boys ge dana kadiyo , ganja maaro kelasa bittu idennella kaliyakke agatha ? hahaha .no ways .moreover aa uniform bandu previously gulf na ondu country nalli police navru use maadtha idda uniform ... hahaha mostly sumne yaake investment antha container ge haaki togondu bandu madrasa products ge haaki march hodestha irodu ...nearly 75% of gatherers were from kerala .
3.any organisation with just support base of one religion cannot win in democratic form .sangh has nurturerd muslims , sikhs , jains , buddhists , cvhritsians in large nos .there are plenty of leaders .. bari march inda nadiyalla swamy ...one of their top leader was a earlier simi member , simi needless to say how many indians they killed and raped .papa ... same summit ... few years back ... if modiji becomes PM , their community will become terrorists :) ...i still recall and laugh at ...
last but not the least rikacha answer me ... biryani kodlilla antha unform boys hodedaata madidranthe howda ? hahaha...
Masha Allah
Unity March towards good vision to eleminate fascism fekuism from Our secular India
Masha allah good to see . pfi u have done it hatts off.....
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