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
Jihadists are fuming , when they beg funds for madrasa and shaadi bhagya , why not give it for temples .ofcourse 98% tax paid by hindus, jains , christians and sikhs .who are proud nationalists ... well done KCR , even give for all temples .
This is only a show biz. Thousands of poors and farmers are suffering all over india and many people are commenting suicde due to poverty on daily basis. Why dont this CM use the money on uplifting of poors. Is his God poorer than these poor indians. Why the temple management is not showing interest in the improvement or help of needy people. If the wealth these temples have will be used wisely, i think 75 percent of poverty in india can be solved. However, no politician or temple is botherd about this.
Whose money is that, being a responsible CM he should have given it to poorer and downtrodden people around or helped farmers to over come their financial problems. Everyday we see on newspaper of their suicide attempts and deaths due to financial situations....
God does not need anybody's money...God gives, doesn't take.....
in Hyderabad itself so many poor people re there..he should have used this money for their betterment..
There is no God except ALLAH... and Muhammd pbuh is the final messager of ALLAH who conveyed the message of oneness of God to all mankind not just muslims...
Every time the messenger was sent to remind people of the oneness of God and to worship him alone... When the messenger was gone people started to worship whatever they felt... even without knowing and trying to know who GOD is ... People live a life of UNAWARE...
READ THE QURAN and try to know who the TRUE GOD . its a manual for whole of MANKIND... Dont accept until YOU are convinced with what it says ... U Have the choice..
Does GOD require gift from Human? Does GOD will be happy or accept if Human give ornaments which that statue can't even wear by himself unless human help? Does GOD require gift from tax payers money? What GOD is going to do with expensive ornaments?
On the other side Sanghi's protecting their GOD (cow) by violence. Does GOD need help or Protection from his own creation. Muscle head doesn't understand.
There are many people who are living in poverty... It would be a blessing from God if the CM would have looked after the LIVING and not idols...
its pure emotional black mail to people by offering the gold to lifeless objects
May God give a just leader to the people of the World...
For what ??? What benefit will Idols get and what benefit CM will get ?? Instead of spending this huge amount in idols CM could have spend it on poor people so that he could be blessed out of it. In 5 crore how many poor people could have benefited? How many shelters for poor could have built it ? This is nothing but wastage of wealth. God Doesnt need anything from human being. Help poor and be kind to all. This gold will fill the lockers of temple management.
Niralli Homa itta hage aitu.. Seriously crazy CM and crazy beliefs.
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