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In Karnataka bypolls, BJP looks at consolidation, Congress at revival & JD(S) at survival

Voting for bypolls at the Sira assembly constituency in Tumakuru district and Rajarajeshwari (RR) Nagar in Bengaluru district will be held tomorrow.

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Bengaluru: The Karnataka BJP will look to consolidate its position while the Congress is eyeing a revival and the Janata Dal (Secular) survival in Tuesday’s bypolls in the state.

The bypolls are to be held for the Sira assembly constituency in Tumakuru district and Rajarajeshwari (RR) Nagar in Bengaluru district.

Election to the Sira seat was necessitated following the death of JD(S) MLA B. Sathyanarayana on 5 August. The bypolls for R.R. Nagar were originally slated for December 2019 after the then Congress MLA Munirathna Naidu defected to the BJP. They were postponed on account of an electoral fraud complaint filed with the Election Commission against Naidu, who is now the BJP candidate. The Supreme Court had last month allowed the elections to be held.

For the Sira seat, the BJP’s candidate is Dr C.M. Rajesh Gowda, a new party entrant and son of a former Congress MP. The Congress has fielded the veteran six-time MLA and former minister, T.B. Jayachandra, while the JD(S) ticket is with Ammajamma Satyanarayana, the widow of the former JD(S) MLA .

At R.R. Nagar, the Congress has fielded H. Kusuma, wife of former IAS officer D.K. Ravi while the JD(S) has gone with local leader V. Krishnamurthy.

BJP looking to consolidate position

For the BJP, particularly Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, the elections are just another consolidation effort.

In the 2019 bypolls, Yediyurappa had to ensure the victory of the 15 rebels who shifted to the BJP in order to save his government. These elections are different.

They are a test for the BJP to see if the party can make significant inroads into Vokkaliga strongholds, which traditionally back the Congress and the JD(S). Both constituencies have a sizable number of Vokkaligas, who make up 12-15 per cent of Karnataka’s population.

The polls are vital to the chief minister on a more personal count — he has handed over the responsibility of the Sira election campaign to his son and Karnataka BJP vice-president B.Y. Vijayendra.

Vijayendra was given the responsibility of winning the JD(S) stronghold of K.R. Pete in the 2019 bypolls, which he successfully did. Sira is another JD(S) bastion and the polls are being viewed as another test of Vijayendra’s organisational skills and Yediyurappa’s star power.

“The Congress and JDS have always played caste-based politics. We are sure to win in both seats and show to all that the BJP is above caste, colour or religion — we are focused on development of the state of Karnataka,” B.Y. Vijayendra told ThePrint. “People have realised this and will vote for Yediyurappaji and the BJP. They have immense confidence in his leadership.

“By winning both seats, we will be able to open the BJP’s account in the Old Mysore region as well where we have not won a single seat in decades,” he added.


Also read: Sting op a conspiracy, attempt to de-stabilise BJP govt, says Yediyurappa’s son Vijayendra


Congress looks at revival under new chief

For the Congress, these elections are a fight for revival under the new leadership of recently-appointed state unit president D.K. Shivakumar. This is Shivakumar’s first electoral test.

His decision to field the newbie H. Kusuma, wife of former IAS officer D.K. Ravi, at R.R. Nagar is being seen as a bold bet. If the Congress manages to retain the R.R. Nagar seat, it will help the party settle scores with the rebel Munirathna.

“Shivakumar’s election strategy and planning is in full play. He is eyeing both seats. If he manages to do so, there is nothing stopping him from pitching himself as the Congress CM candidate in the 2023 elections,” said a senior party leader managing the R.R. Nagar campaign.

If the Congress loses, however, Shivakumar may have to rework his strategy to work closely with senior leaders such as former chief minister Sidddamraiah who is seen as his political rival within the party.

Siddaramaiah is also using these elections to boost his image, one that has taken a huge beating due to internal strife.

He has decided to take on former alliance partner JD(S) by calling them “agents of the BJP”.

“There is no doubt that both Yediyurappa and Kuamarswamy have a pact,” the Leader of Opposition said when ThePrint caught up with him while he was camping in Sira. “We have seen how Kumaraswamy goes with the BJP when they are in power.”


Also read: How Karnataka Congress plans to use emotion & caste to win Bengaluru’s RR Nagar seat


JD(S) fight for survival

The JD(S) relies mainly on the Vokkaligas for its electoral fortunes and a loss, especially at Sira, will hurt the party further.

But even if the JD(S) loses both seats, there is a silver lining, provided the Congress loses too. That would mean that the Congress’ D.K. Shivakumar, who also belongs to the Vokkaliga community, hasn’t yet eclipsed the Deve Gowda family in the community.

“We will give a tough fight. If we don’t win, we lose nothing,” said Tanveer Ahmed, national spokesperson of the JD(S).

“But if we win, it only shows the confidence people of Karnataka have reposed in regional parties like us to build the state. National parties like the Congress and BJP have only been involved in corrupt practices and worked for their political gains.”


Also read: ‘Just another battle’ — How 3 100-year-old great grandmothers fought off Covid in Karnataka


 

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