LS polls in Karnataka: Congress to get 10-18 seats, BJP 6-10, JDS 4-8, says survey

January 22, 2014

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Bangalore, Jan 22: In another battleground state of Karnataka, the ruling Congress is still ahead of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal Secular (JDS).

With 28 seats in the Lok Sabha, Karnataka is expected to play an important role in the next elections. According to the projections provided by Chennai Mathematical Institute's Director Professor Rajeeva Karandikar, Congress will win 10-18 seats, BJP 6-10 and JDS 4-8.

Even though its popularity rating is lower than what it was six months ago, the Congress has the backing of 42 per cent voters. The main opposition BJP is making a good progress and has gained 12 per cent votes in the last six months.

The BJP is likely get 32 per cent votes if elections are held in January 2014 according Lokniti-IBN National Tracker poll. The JDS is expected to garner 18 per cent, the AAP 3 per cent and others 5 per cent votes respectively.

Karnataka has 28 Lok Sabha seats. In the 2009 elections, the BJP won 19, Congress 6 and the JDS 3 seats respectively.

The poll tracker findings prove that most people are opposed to the re-entry of former CM BS Yeddyurappa into the BJP. Overall 50 per cent respondents are opposed to it. Only 32 per cent are backing his re-entry. Among the traditional BJP backers, 53 per cent are supporting his re-entry and 37 per cent are against it.

Surprisingly, among the Lingayats, who are considered the biggest backers of Yeddyurappa, 51 per cent voters are opposing his re-entry. Only 30 per cent Lingayats are backing it.

Overall, 43 per cent respondents feel that Yeddyurappa would be a liability for the BJP. Only 29 per cent feel that he would be an asset. Among the traditional BJP backers, 37 per cent feel that he would be a liability and 47 per cent feel that he would be an asset.

On Congress government in the state

Most respondents are aware of the populist schemes launched by the Siddaramaiah government. Two of his populist schemes Anna Bhagya and Ksheera Bhagya are very well known across the state.

Overall 46 per cent respondents also feel that the Congress government in Karnataka is better than the previous BJP government. Only 21 per cent respondents feel that the BJP government was better than the Congress government.

Among the traditional Congress backers, 78 per cent feel that the Congress government is better. Among the traditional BJP supporters, 51 per cent feel that their government was better.

Interestingly, six out of 10 respondents feel that the JDS of the HD Deve Gowda should fight the Lok Sabha elections on its own. Among the few who want the JDS to tie-up, there is a divided opinion on who it should ally with. While 40 per cent respondents back a Congress-JDS alliance, 35 per cent back a JDS-BJP alliance.

High level of satisfaction

Satisfaction with the Congress government in the state is very high. Over 71 per cent respondents say that they are happy with the performance of the Congress government in the state. Just 24 per cent voters say they are dissatisfied.

Siddaramaiah is more popular than his party and 76 per cent respondents are happy with him. Just 20 per cent say that they are not happy with him.

However, despite high level of satisfaction with the state government and the chief minister, there is hardly any pro-government mood. Just 36 per cent voters feel that state government should get another chance with 34 per cent of the opinion that it should not.

UPA very unpopular

Like most of India, the Congress-led UPA at the Centre is very unpopular in Karnataka too with 52 per cent respondents dissatisfied with the Central government. Interestingly, PM Manmohan Singh's ratings are still better than his government's ratings with 53 per cent respondents feeling that they are happy with his performance.

One more interesting thing is dissipation of the pro-UPA mood seen in Karnataka soon after Assembly polls. A total of 49 per cent respondents feel that the UPA government at the Centre should not get another chance and just 33 per cent back it.

Modi leads PM race

Like most other states, BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi is leading the PM race also in Karnataka with 28 per cent respondents backing him for the post of PM. Rahul Gandhi has got 19 per cent support. Interestingly, Sonia Gandhi has got 14 per cent support for the post of PM. Local leader and former PM H D Deve Gowda has got 8 per cent backing for the post of PM.

AAP impact in Karnataka

In Karnataka, 49 per cent respondents have heard of the AAP. Among them 24 per cent want the AAP to contest from their Lok Sabha seat and 14 per cent of them want to vote for it.

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News Network
November 13,2024

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Bengaluru: An estimated overall 10.14 per cent voter turnout was recorded during the first two hours, since the voting began for bypolls to three Assembly segments in Karnataka on Wednesday, election officials said.

The voting began at 7 am and will go on till 6 pm.

More than seven lakh voters are eligible to cast their votes in about 770 polling stations in Shiggaon, Sandur and Channapatna, where a total of 45 candidates are in the fray.

While Channapatna recorded 10.34 per cent voter turnout till 9 am, it was 10.08 per cent in Shiggaon, and 9.99 per cent in Sandur, election officials said.

Voters, including women and elderly were seen queuing up in front of polling booths in these segments.

By-polls for Sandur, Shiggaon, and Channapatna are necessitated, as the seats fell vacant following the election of their respective representatives -- E Tukaram of Congress, former CM Basavaraj Bommai of BJP, and Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy of JD(S) -- to Lok Sabha in May elections.

As many as 31 candidates are in the fray from Channapatna, while Sandur and Shiggaon have six and eight contenders, respectively.

Elaborate security arrangements have been made in the three segments for the smooth conduct of the polls.

The by-polls will witness a straight fight between the ruling Congress and BJP in Sandur and Shiggaon segments, while in Channapatna, JD(S) which is part of the NDA alliance is in contest against the grand old party.

Among the three segments, Channapatna is considered to be a "high profile", where the contest is between C P Yogeeshwara, a five time MLA from the segment and former Minister, who joined the Congress quitting BJP ahead of nomination, and actor-turned -politician Nikhil Kumaraswamy, who is Kumaraswamy’s son and former PM H D Deve Gowda's grandson.

BJP's Bharath Bommai, son of Basavaraj Bommai, is fighting Congress Yasir Ahmed Khan Pathan, who had faced defeat against the former Chief Minister in the 2023 Assembly polls, in Shiggaon.

Bharath Bommai and his father cast their vote at a polling booth in Shiggaon segment.

In Sandur, Bellary MP Tukaram's wife E Annapurna of Congress is contesting from the seat vacated by her husband, against, BJP ST Morcha president Bangaru Hanumanthu, who is considered close to party leader and former mining barron G Janardhan Reddy.

Annapurna, Tukaram and other family members cast their votes at a booth in the segment.

With Nikhil Kumaraswamy and Bharath Bommai contesting, the third generation of Gowda and Bommai families are in the fray in this by-poll. Both their fathers and grandfathers have served as Karnataka's Chief Ministers in the past.

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News Network
November 12,2024

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Mysuru, Nov 12: Zameer Ahmad Khan, the Tourism and Waqf minister of Karnataka, who stirred a controversy by addressing the Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy as ‘Kaala Kumaraswamy’ has tendered apologies for his remarks.

Speaking to reporters in Mysuru on Tuesday, Minister Zameer stated that he will apologise if remarks have hurt JD-S workers.

“We both are very close. Then, in a total of 24 hours, we were together for 14 hours. He used to fondly address me as “kulla” (shorty) and I used to address him as “kariyanna” (blacky, kaalia),” Minister Zameer stated.

“I am not addressing him as ‘kaalia’ for the first time. I have not said something highly derogatory. It is being made as big in the backdrop of elections. With love, he used to call me a shorty and I called him a blacky. If I had caused pain to anyone by my words I apologise,” he said.

He further stated: “Kumaraswamy had said that he didn’t want the votes of the Muslim community. But now they are attempting to purchase Muslim votes. Against this backdrop, I have made the remark.”

Minister for Home G. Parameshwara stated on Tuesday, “Minister Zameer and Kumaraswamy are close friends. Their comments against each other are not significant.”

Zameer Ahmad Khan, the Tourism and Waqf minister of Karnataka stirred a controversy on Monday as he addressed the Union Minister as ‘Kaala Kumaraswamy’.

JD-S on Tuesday demanded a public apology and resignation of Minister for Waqf and Tourism Zameer Ahmad Khan over his ‘racist’ remarks.

“Remember, there is no place here for your divisive policies. You have insulted the people by making ethnic, racist and discriminatory statements. You should apologize to the people of the state and resign,” the JD (S) demanded in the post.

Union Parliamentary Affairs and Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju reacted sternly to the racist jibe and stated, “I strongly deplore Congress Minister Zameer Ahmed calling Union Minister and former Chief Minister of Karnataka Kumaraswamy as 'Kaalia Kumaraswamy'.

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November 3,2024

Mangaluru: Dakshina Kannada MP Capt. Brijesh Chowta has called for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the alleged embezzlement of Waqf properties. This demand follows findings from the Anwar Manippady committee's report, which reveals that while 54,000 acres of land are registered with the Waqf Board, approximately 29,000 acres have been misappropriated.

Capt. Chowta emphasized the need for a thorough investigation, stating, “A comprehensive probe should be conducted based on this report. Those who have illegally encroached on these properties must be held accountable.”

He challenged the Congress party, suggesting that if they genuinely care for the Muslim community and underprivileged women, their members should actively participate in the Joint Parliamentary Committee discussing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024. This participation is essential to ensure that Waqf properties are used effectively for community welfare.

The MP criticized the notices served to farmers in Honvada village, Vijayapura, which stated that nearly 1,200 acres of their ancestral land was being reassigned to the Waqf Board. He expressed that this issue arose while the NDA government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is working on amendments to the Waqf Act. He accused the Congress-led state government, particularly Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan, of trying to enforce outdated 50-year-old notifications about Waqf properties. After the farmers raised concerns, Minister M. B. Patil clarified that the confusion was due to an error in the gazette.

Chowta alleged that Congress members in the Joint Parliamentary Committee are obstructing proceedings and causing disruptions. He expressed suspicion that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah might have instructed Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan to implement these outdated notifications regarding Waqf properties. As a result, he demanded the Minister's resignation.

He accused the Congress party of exploiting Muslim voters for the past 75 years without making substantial efforts for their welfare. Furthermore, he highlighted that the BJP is launching a campaign against land jihad, pointing out that the Waqf Board controls one of the largest land banks after the Defence and Railways sectors. Finally, he urged citizens to check the revenue records (RTC) of their land ownership to verify its status.

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