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
Wow just in 9 mins the fire service reaches!!!
The biggest blunder of Modi Government....those who eat beef let them eat it....those who do not with all respect do not eat it....its their choice.....vote bank politics...that should be stopped for once and for all....
Muslims do not eat pig....but do not disturb Christians at all...
Masha allah our great leaders. may Allah give you long life.
incredible India.. The government, high commissioners getting a warning by RSS Terrorists but no action till date and if it is said by Muslim outfits they will name it as terrorism and file case against innocents.
Now impose case against these goondas and let's see how they will react..
If These terrorists warns means don't worry. If they strike and do any other terrorist acts, then shoot them. Automatically Dakshina kannada will become peaceful district like before.
NIA It is Narendra Interests adopting Agency.
They killed karkera, Good police inspectors everywhere Ex. Bathla house attack, etc.
They are arresting whomever opposing RSS and their Terrorist organizations.
and Why not BJP ????????
its unfortunate that ...he included SDPI as a communal group ....its a POLITICAL party ...just because fighting for the rights of minorities and dalits . and killed by RSS government is adding and considering as communal parties ????????????????
RAI , UT and LOBO are behind this to add SDPI too in this list ...
and one more thing is that ... victim of RSS are all including RSS members ( some times RSS kills their own members to shut the mouth) .....now when RSS started to kill civilians in DK and NK....and Popular front started to protest against the same ....now govt added victims in the list to target ...
all though the RSS is the main cause for all ....only RSS should be targeted not PFI or SDPI
All drama baazi...
assalam alikum wa rahmatullahi wabarkatuhu,
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Asslumalikum waRahmatullahi Wabarkatuhu.
Sir
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Good move,book all anti social elements for peaceful atmosphere in DK and Udupi, Let normal people live peacefully
first Police is showing its presence .....who were dead while processions and stone pelting by BD and other third class organizations .....
in fact Muslims dont pelt the stones or cow heads ...we have seen this in Shimoga and other places and as well as Bantwal ..where a viral video shows the reality ....
if P.O.L.I.C.E over come from its % pressure , then we can see some light of peace in the district .....
Asslamoalykum
Sir I have Ready passport and I am very excited to do khidmaat e hujjaze Kiran but I want you to pay money but I promise to you when I earn some money I will return your money. Thank you
Please
Well done police. Should punish this gundaas.
When Muslims do their job taught by prophet Muhammad pbuh ... EXPECT ALLAHs help. Never lose trust in ALLAH..
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