Bengaluru: The Congress and BJP will lock horns on the electoral battleground again in less than a fortnight in Karnataka, as the stage is set for the second phase of elections in the 14 remaining Lok Sabha seats on Tuesday.
It is going to be a straight fight between the ruling Congress and BJP in Parliamentary segments in the northern districts. The JD(S) is not contesting in these seats and is supporting its National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partner -- the BJP.
The state has a total of 28 Lok Sabha constituencies. The first phase of polling in 14 seats in most of the southern and coastal districts was held on April 26.
A total of 227 candidates -- 206 men and 21 women -- are in the fray for the second phase.
More than 2.59 crore voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in 28,269 polling stations where voting will take place between 7 am to 6 pm.
The segments where elections will be held on Tuesday are: Chikkodi, Belgaum, Bagalkot, Bijapur, Gulbarga, Raichur, Bidar, Koppal, Bellary, Haveri, Dharwad, Uttara Kannada, Davangere and Shimoga.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, BJP had swept all these 14 seats, defeating Congress and JD(S), which were in alliance and ruling the state then.
Having scored a thumping victory in the Assembly elections last year, 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 has held power in the past.
Speaking to PTI, Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Meena said adequate security arrangements have been made for Tuesday's polling.
"Around 1.45 lakh polling officials have been deployed across the 14 constituencies. In addition, 35,000 civil police personnel, 65 companies of Central Paramilitary forces and armed police of other states will be deployed for the polling day," he said.
Besides this, 4,000 micro-observers will also be on duty and 17,000 polling stations will be covered by webcasting, he added.
Davangere has the maximum number of 30 candidates, followed by 23 in Shimoga and Raichur has the least number - eight.
Former Chief Ministers Basavaraj Bommai (Haveri) and Jagadish Shettar (Balgaum), Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi (Dharwad) and Bhagwanth Khuba (Bidar) -- all from BJP; Congress' Geetha Shivrajkumar (Shimoga) -- wife of actor Shivrajkumar and daughter of former CM S Bangarappa and AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge's son-in-law Radhakrishna Doddamani (Gulbarga), are among the prominent names in the fray.
Also in the contest are MP and veteran BJP leader B S Yediyurappa's son B Y Raghavendra, suspended party leader and former Deputy CM K S Eshwarappa -- both from Shimoga, former Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri and ex-Minister B Sreeramulu of BJP from Uttara Kannada and Bellary respectively and retired IAS officer G Kumar Naik of Congress from Raichur.
Stakes are high for several Ministers in this phase with their children in fray.
Sons of Ministers Laxmi Hebbalkar and Eshwar Khandre - Mrinal Ravindra Hebbalkar and Sagar Khandre - are contesting from Belgaum and Bidar respectively, while daughters of Ministers Satish Jarkiholi and Shivanand Patil -Priyanka Jarkiholi and Samyukta Patil- are in contention in Chikkodi and Bagalkot respectively.
Prabha Mallikarjun, wife of Minister S S Mallikarjun and daughter-in-law of veteran Congress leader Shamanur Shivashankarappa, is in the fray from Davangere.
The Congress' performance in the elections, especially in the second phase which covers almost all Lingayat-dominated districts, is crucial, as the party did not win one of them in 2019, and to also check whether the grand old party has managed to retain the support of a section of Lingayats -- considered as the BJP's core vote-base -- which seemed to have somewhat shifted towards it in the 2023 Assembly polls.
The Lok Sabha election is being seen as a big test of sorts for Congress state unit chief D K 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. The stakes are also high for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, as victory in this election is seen as key to strengthening his hands, analysts say.
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 polls, by regaining its traditional Lingayat vote-base.
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 to the post, overlooking seniors and seasoned hands.
The ruling Congress is mostly banking on the implementation of its populist five guarantee schemes while the BJP seems to be leveraging the "Modi factor" to the hilt.
Comments
Mr. Udbhav,
Please mind your own business, we are demanding a flag for whole state not for any extremist group like shivasene.
Religion, : Everyone should know clearly about the basic of religion.
1)What is religion,
2)Why is it required.
3) What will happen if not followed it.
1) The religion is not invention of mankind. It is set of instructions prescribed by the creator of this universe.
2) It is required how to lead the entire in this world. Also to succeed in other part of the life which is after the death.
3) If not followed, the God should say clearly what is the consequence of violating its teaching.
It is mostly believed by most of the religious people.
the question is which is the right religion.
People might think is there another life after this life. Yes definitely there is. If not why the God has created this world. He has not created for his fun. there is a strong reason, the people will understand if they really read and understand Quran.
Therefore I strongly believe, no need to make new religion.
Also there can not be more than 1religion. Because all of us believe without any dispute there is only 1God. Then how is it possible to have more than 1religion. This is common sense. But people should have patience, wisdom to find the truth.
study some existing religions.
All of them are not true for the reasons above.
Choose the religion, which is the right religion.
Dare to know and follow it. This is your right.
Please dont react Chaddi Naren...Let him do bla, blaaa, blaaaa...when there is no reaction one day he will stop....wuffff....
Modiji thoda yahan bhi dhyan dijiyoo.... instead of giving attention towards cow issues, 3 talaq issues and Women rights in Islam could you please turn towards to improve the quality of Indian Airlines..During the rainy season, to travel by AI or Indian Airlines means, feeling like we are going to committing suicide.
The more someone hate Islam, Islam grows more ,
Alhamdulillah
viren dont b upset ,your statistics are wrong , b a truthful and NIA is busy now wil try later
Every state should have its right to practice whatever deems to be right for them.
Nobody should impose, dictate to say what should they choose for
Food habits, eat, drink, practicing religion, language, etc.,
IT is their right. They have free choice as long as it does not hurt others.
Flag is not a big issue. It can be a symbol of identity.
This man is talking exactly like our Eshwarappa. These people became leaders not on merit, it is at the cost of stupidity of their followers.
Innalilahi wainna ilaihi raajivoon..
A big shock, and unbelievable news.
'Ya Allah' grant him place in jannah Aameen...and grant him magfirat and sabr for his family members..
Exactly Viren...its not a big loss for Hindus
But its a proof that Islam continues to be fastest growing religion
In school assembly they tell us to say...
All Indians are my brothers and sisters... then why we marry Indians.
Teaching us wrong things..
That's why Rajiv Gandhi married a foreigner. But why did Modi married a Indian women.
Masha Allah..... May Allah give Hidaya to Viren Kotian....
Hinduism is fast growing religion in the world or terrorists growing rapidly in Hinduism, please make sure what you have written is correct and in conscious stage?? Apart from India where you can get the majority of your religion viren.. be matured and talk sensibly!
ALLAHU AKBAR FOR GOOD NEWS..SUBHANALLAH
FIRST TELL THEM THE MEANING OF IT. WHICH GOES AGAINST ALL RELIGIOUS BOOKS
Dear Viren,
This is not a fake religion or man made religion.
ISLAM is the TRUTH
YOU should verify by all means to know the TRUTH.
QURAN is a guidance to MANKIND not just Muslims.
Not just indians thru out the world ISLAM will grow day by day...
It is not acceptable in ISLAM to force anybody to become muslim. ALLAH knows what is in our HEART.
Muslim means one who submits to the will of God ALLAH.
There is no God but ALLAH and Muhammad is the messenger of ALLAH who conveyed to Worship One God ALLAH.
Allahu Akbar. If they kill one, Allah(swt) replaces with 13! You plan, but Allah(swt) too plans, and HE is the Best Planner.
Good thinking.
When you are thinking of new religion, don't hurry.
The selection of Religion should have valued criteria and basis.
Otherwise it has no meaning.
What is the religion, not by changing name, temple. You are not dictating the religion. The religion is dictating your entire activity of the life from creed to grave.
The religion is a guidance from the God. You have to search for the right thing around you, which is already existing. When you believe in God, you should also believe the God has sent you guidance to you. It is your duty find where is that guidance.
You don't need to invent the wheels. Just look for the right thing already available around you.
Also please don't look into the people of any group, study its ideology. There are many people who represent the religion but they don't know what to covey and reach it.
May God help and guide properly.
May Allah rest Brother Bashus soul in peace.
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