North Karnataka: BJP, Congress in direct combat for 14 Lok Sabha seats

The BJP and the Congress are locked in a direct combat for the 14 Lok Sabha seats of north Karnataka that may vote on Might 7. In 2019, the BJP swept this area, successful all of the 14 constituencies, with the Congress struggling a rout even in its conventional heartland of Kalyana Karnataka (the north-eastern division of the State). The JD (S), which is a part of the BJP alliance, has not been allotted any seat in north Karnataka, the place it has a restricted help base.

Amongst different points, the BJP highlighted the homicide of a Hindu lady named Neha Hiremath by a Muslim classmate in Hubballi. The BJP’s star campaigners, akin to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and House Minister Amit Shah, additionally focused the Congress over points such because the inheritance tax, despite the fact that it has not been talked about within the Congress manifesto.

The Congress is hoping to make good points within the a part of the State on the again of its implementation of 5 ensures. A part of its marketing campaign has additionally targeted on the Prajwal Revanna scandal, with Congress leaders accusing the BJP of endorsing his candidature regardless of figuring out all about his character.

Additionally Learn | South Karnataka: April 26 to see robust combat for 14 seats

The incumbents and the challengers

A full record of the constituencies voting on Might 7 in Karnataka, with temporary particulars in regards to the candidates, follows:

Chikkodi: The BJP has renominated its incumbent MP, Annasaheb Jolle, who, assured of his renomination started his marketing campaign six months in the past on this north-west nook of Karnataka. Pitted in opposition to him is Priyanka Jarkiholi, a political novice. Whereas the younger Congress candidate doesn’t have any political expertise, she is the daughter of Karnataka Minister Satish Jarkiholi who, alongside along with his brothers, is a powerhouse within the politics of Karnataka. Jolle is a Lingayat whereas Jarkiholi is a Valmiki, which is recognised as Scheduled Tribe. Of the eight Meeting constituencies forming a part of the Chikkodi parliamentary constituency, 5 are represented by the Congress whereas the BJP has three MLAs.

Belagavi: Former Union Minister Suresh Angadi ensured that Belagavi turned a BJP fortress by successful from this constituency repeatedly from 2004. Within the byelection that befell after his demise, his spouse, Mangala Savadi, was victorious in 2021, however this time, the BJP has chosen to area its former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar. Shettar was an aspirant for the neighbouring Dharwad Lok Sabha seat however has been accommodated in Belagavi after he returned from the Congress’ fold, which he had joined previous to the Meeting election final 12 months. Shettar is a Lingayat like his Congress opponent, Mrinal Hebbalkar. This would be the first electoral contest for Hebbalkar whose mom, Laxmi Hebbalkar, is a Minister within the Congress authorities in energy within the State.

Bagalkot: BJP’s four-time winner from this constituency, P.C. Gaddigoudar, takes on political debutant Samyukta Patil of the Congress. Samyukta is the daughter of Shivanand Patil, an incumbent Minister within the Karnataka authorities, who’s placing all his efforts in making certain her victory. Each the candidates belong to the Lingayat neighborhood, with Gaddigoudar belonging to the Ganiga sub-caste and Patil to the Panchamsali sub-caste. Gaddigoudar is banking on his non-controversial and pleasant picture and the truth that Patil doesn’t belong to Bagalkot to spice up his probabilities of re-election. Samyukta Patil, alternatively, is specializing in the profitable implementation of the Congress’ 5 ensures.

Karnataka BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra pays tribute to Neha Hiremath, a pupil who was stabbed to demise by a classmate, in Hubballi on April 23. The homicide has turn out to be a serious political rallying level within the run-up to the election.
| Photograph Credit score:
PTI

Bijapur: The competition on this reserved constituency (SC) is between Ramesh Jigajinagi, a veteran parliamentarian from the BJP, and a Hanumant (Raju) Alagur of the Congress, a former MLA. Jigajinagi is a six-time parliamentarian who belongs to the left-hand agglomeration of Dalits in Karnataka. The Congress, which picked Lambani (thought-about a touchable Dalit caste) candidates up to now, has modified its technique this time round. Alagur served as an MLA for 2 phrases and belongs to the right-hand agglomeration of Dalits in Karnataka. The JD (S) has a restricted base right here however that has eroded after its alliance with the BJP. Lingayats and Dalits are the 2 largest communities however there are additionally vital numbers of Muslims and Kurubas.

Additionally Learn | In Karnataka, it’s a battle of ‘ensures’

Kalaburagi: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had by no means misplaced an election all through his lengthy political profession spanning over 5 many years till 2019, when Umesh Jadhav of the BJP defeated him on this reserved (SC) constituency by a margin of virtually 1 lakh votes. Jadhav has been renominated from the BJP whereas the Congress has nominated Radhakrishna Doddamani, a selection that shocked many, however the truth that he’s Kharge’s son-in-law has ensured that any opposition to his candidature has been subdued. Six of the eight MLAs from the constituency are with the Congress, whereas the BJP and JD (S) have one MLA every. Other than Dalits, Lingayats and Muslims represent an necessary part of the citizens.

Raichur: The competition on this reserved constituency (ST) is attention-grabbing due to a unusual coincidence. The Congress’ candidate is former civil servant G. Kumar Naik, who was the Deputy Commissioner of Raichur district between 1999 and 2002. His opponent, Raja Amareshwar Naik, the scion of a minor native royal household, was a Minister and district in-charge of Raichur throughout Kumar Naik’s tenure. Thus, the 2 candidates who labored collectively whereas administering the district are actually competing in opposition to one another. Within the Meeting election of 2023, the Congress gained 5 seats whereas the BJP gained two and the JD (S) one. Other than Valmikis, Dalits, Muslims, Kurubas, and Lingayats are the numerous communities on this constituency.

Bidar: A political greenhorn from the Congress, 26-year-old Sagar Khandre, who’s a third-generation politician, will tackle Union Minister Bhagwant Khuba, who’s aiming for a hat-trick victory from this constituency. Whereas Sagar is the candidate, Khuba’s actual combat is along with his father, Eshwar Khandre, Forest and Surroundings Minister, who’s investing all his assets and vitality to make sure his son’s victory. This is without doubt one of the few Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka the place the BJP has extra MLAs than the Congress. Whereas the BJP emerged victorious in eight Meeting seats in final 12 months’s Meeting election, the Congress was capable of win in three. Other than Lingayats. who kind the most important chunk of the citizens, Dalits, tribal folks, and Muslims are current in vital numbers.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge with occasion leaders throughout a public assembly for the Lok Sabha election, in North Kalaburagi on Might 4.
| Photograph Credit score:
ANI

Koppal: The constituency has been electing candidates from the BJP over the previous three Lok Sabha elections however the occasion suffered a setback after its two-term MP, Karadi Sanganna Amarappa, joined the Congress after he was denied a ticket and the BJP selected Dr Basavaraj Kyavater as its candidate. An orthopaedic, Dr Kyavater is a Lingayat, whereas his Congress opponent, Rajashekar Hitnal, is a Kuruba. Hitnal contested the 2019 election as nicely whereas his father, Basavaraj Hitnal, contested and misplaced in 2014 in opposition to Amarappa. Rajashekar Hitnal is hoping to lastly avenge the 2 defeats that he and his father suffered by the hands of the BJP and can also be banking on the consolidation of the votes of backward communities, Muslims, Dalits, and tribal voters.

Bellary: On this reserved seat (ST), the BJP’s B. Sriramulu will face the Congress’ E. Tukaram. Sriramulu turned notorious through the iron ore mining scandal that rocked Karnataka within the 2000s due to his intimate relationship with the Reddy brothers however has since transcended the stigma of that affiliation to emerge as a frontrunner of the Valmiki neighborhood. Sriramulu’s vital political stints as Minister and the entry of Janardhan Reddy’s occasion into the BJP fold has additionally elevated his help base. Tukaram can also be a Valmiki and has a clear picture on this constituency the place each events have an entrenched help base.

Haveri: That is the primary time {that a} former Chief Minister will likely be contesting from this constituency in central Karnataka. Basavaraj Bommai of the BJP, who helmed the State from 2021 to 2023, is pitted in opposition to a younger Congress candidate, Anandaswamy Gaddadevaramath. Each the candidates belong to the Lingayat neighborhood. Bommai is specializing in his achievements throughout his tenure as Chief Minister, whereas Gaddadevaramath is banking on the strong good points that the Congress made on this constituency’s Meeting segments in final 12 months’s election, when it gained seven of the eight seats. Other than Lingayats. who kind the overwhelming majority, there are massive numbers of Dalits, tribal folks, and Muslims within the constituency.

Dharwad: The BJP’s candidate, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, a Brahmin, is hoping for his fifth consecutive victory from this constituency. A younger Congress chief, Vinod Asuti, who belong to the backward Kuruba caste, is the challenger. A Lingayat pontiff Fakir Dingaleshwar had filed his nomination papers desiring to contest as an impartial candidate as he was miffed with the BJP’s selection of a Brahmin candidate on this constituency the place Lingayats kind an awesome majority, however he later withdrew his candidature, vowing to make sure the defeat of Joshi. This determination might assist consolidate votes in favour of the Congress though the BJP is specializing in the homicide of Neha Hiremath, who was a resident of Hubballi which types a part of this constituency, and casting the crime as a bigger conspiracy of ‘love jehad’.

Uttara Kannada: This coastal constituency is taken into account a secure seat for the BJP as former Union Minister Anantkumar Hegde has gained it on six events since 1996. Hegde was thought-about a frontrunner this time as nicely however was changed by former Karnataka Meeting Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri, after the previous’s controversial remarks suggesting that the Structure can be modified if the BJP gained greater than 400 seats. As this constituency incorporates components of Belagavi district, the place the BJP surges forward, the Congress picked former MLA Dr Anjali Nimbalkar, who’s from Khanapur. as its candidate. The demographic breakup of the constituency can also be distinctive in Karnataka as non secular minorities (Muslims and Christians) kind the only largest chunk of the voters. There are additionally vital numbers of Marathas, Dalits, and tribal and Namdhari voters.

Authorities officers on ballot responsibility with gear allotted to them earlier than transferring to their polling cubicles, in Haveri on Might 6.
| Photograph Credit score:
Sajay Ritti

Davanagere: That is the one constituency the place each the primary contenders are ladies and notably, one of many few constituencies in Karnataka the place ladies voters outnumber males. A Lingayat stronghold of central Karnataka, Davanagere has lengthy been the fiefdom of two households: that of Shamanur Shivashankarappa of the Congress and G.N. Mallikarjunappa of the BJP. The 2 contestants within the fray now are the daughters-in-law of those patriarchs and thus, the present electoral contest of Davanagere is being seen as a continuation of the battle between these two households. A insurgent Congress candidate, G.B. Vinay Kumar, can also be within the fray on this constituency the place Lingayats, tribal folks, Dalits, and Muslims are current in massive numbers. Of the eight MLAs from this seat, seven are with the Congress whereas the BJP has just one MLA.

Shivamogga: The entry of BJP insurgent candidate Ok.S. Eshwarappa in what was slated to be a direct and prestigious combat between the kids of two former Chief ministers from the BJP and Congress has ensured that Shivamogga has been within the limelight for the previous few months. B.Y. Raghavendra, son of former Cheif Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, who has represented this constituency thrice, is understood for sustaining a low profile and is banking on Lingayat help and avid Hindutva adherents to see him by way of. His challenger is Geeta Shivarajkumar, who has a number of and illustrious antecedents: she is the daughter of former Chief Minister S. Bangarappa, the daughter-in-law of Kannada movie legend Dr Rajkumar and spouse of Kannada cinema’s reigning star, Shivarajkumar. She can also be the and sister of Minister Madhu Bangarappa. She hopes that the massive variety of Idiga and Muslim voters within the constituency will see her by way of.

Summing up, the 14 Lok Sabha constituencies of north Karnataka signify the bigger political battle being waged throughout the State. With high-profile candidates (lots of whom are political dynasts), intense household rivalries, and essential caste equations at play, the area guarantees an exciting electoral contest between the BJP and the Congress. The efficiency of those two nationwide events on this belt will considerably affect the Lok Sabha outcomes. As voters head to the cubicles on Might 7, all eyes will likely be on whether or not the BJP can repeat its sweep of 2019 or if the Congress can regain its conventional strongholds by way of its profitable implementation of the 5 ensures.