Karnataka Bypolls: Congress and BJP Clash Over Key Assembly Seats
In Bengaluru, the political landscape is heating up as the governing Congress and the principal opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are intensifying preparations for upcoming bypolls to two crucial assembly seats: Davanagere South and Bagalkot. These contests are pivotal, with Congress striving to consolidate its hold and the BJP determined to secure bragging rights in the state.
Strategic Maneuvers by Major Parties
The elections for these two seats are anticipated to be announced concurrently with polls in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Assam, and West Bengal. Congress currently holds both seats and is treating the contests as a must-win scenario to reinforce its governance. In contrast, BJP state president BY Vijayendra is keen to upset the apple cart and assert his leadership by capturing these constituencies.
To bolster its campaign, Congress plans to constitute two panels of ministers to oversee electioneering in Davanagere South and Bagalkot. GC Chandrashekhar, Congress state working president, elaborated, "We'll assign responsibilities to ministers and they will work in two groups. Each team will comprise six ministers and they will initially shortlist candidates and later oversee electioneering, including campaigning."
On the other side, the BJP's state core committee has already initiated the process of shortlisting candidates. CN Ashwath Narayan, MLA and BJP core committee member, stated, "Going by ground reports, we have a clear chance of winning both seats. We will send the shortlist well before the announcement of bypolls and the parliamentary board will finalise candidates."
Candidate Selection Challenges in Davanagere South
In Davanagere South, Congress faces intricate competing claims for the ticket. The Muslim community is advocating for a candidate from their ranks, while the family of the late MLA Shamanur Shivashankarappa is pushing to field a member to fill the vacancy created by his death in December last year. Additionally, another faction is pitching for a candidate from the Ahinda bloc, which encompasses minorities, backward classes, and Dalits, collectively accounting for nearly 80% of the 2.3 lakh electorate.
Supporters of an Ahinda candidate have raised concerns about the concentration of representation within the Shamanur family. Shivashankarappa's son, SS Mallikarjun, represents Davanagere North and serves as the horticulture minister, and his wife, Prabha Mallikarjun, is the Davanagere Lok Sabha MP. K Abdul Jabbar, Congress MLC, commented, "Shivashankarappa was MLA of Davanagere South for four successive terms, and Ahinda communities unconditionally supported him, respecting his seniority. Now, these communities are demanding they be given a chance. While Muslims deserve the ticket going by the numbers, we will be happy if a person from the Ahinda community is fielded as the Congress candidate."
Senior Congress functionaries revealed that potential options include fielding Mallikarjun's son, Samarth Shamanur, or Shivashankarappa's elder brother, Bakkesh Shamanur. For the BJP, the choice is between former MP GM Siddeshwara and BG Ajay Kumar, although Siddeshwara has publicly ruled out his candidature.
Bagalkot Seat Dynamics and BJP's Deliberations
In Bagalkot, the seat was vacated by the death of HY Meti in November last year, leading to a familial competition between his siblings, Bayakka Meti and Mallikarjun Meti, for the Congress ticket. Meanwhile, the BJP is considering former MLA Veeranna Charantimath and MLC GH Poojar as potential candidates.
Jagadish Shettar, former Chief Minister and Belagavi MP for the BJP, noted, "There are differing opinions on candidates for both seats. Party brass will take a call after considering all opinions." This highlights the internal deliberations within both parties as they navigate complex local dynamics and voter expectations.
As the bypoll dates approach, these contests are set to test the political strategies and grassroots strength of Congress and BJP in Karnataka, with outcomes potentially influencing broader state politics ahead of future elections.
