The sons of former CMs B.S. Yeddyurappa, J.H. Patel and S. Bangarappa are up against each other in the Shivamogga Lok Sabha bypoll on 3 November.
Bengaluru: The 3 November bypoll to the Shivamogga Lok Sabha seat will prove to be a legacy test for three former Karnataka chief ministers, whose sons are pitted against each other for election from the constituency.
The seat fell vacant after former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa quit as MP earlier this year for his failed bid to stake claim to office after the May assembly election.
Nestled in a corner of central Karnataka, Shivamogga is known as the hub of politics as well as intellectual thought. It has given rise to several politicians, such as B.S. Yeddyurappa, Shantiveera Gopal Gowda, J.H. Patel, K. Thimappa and S. Bangarappa, and some of the state’s greatest writers, U.R. Ananthamurthy and Kuvempu, call Shivamogga their birthplace.
Another important factor that makes Shivamogga an important constituency is that it was the birthplace of the socialist movement in south India. It is here that the fight for land for the tiller began, and was cemented with legislation on the watch of former chief minister Devraj Urs. This law set a precedent for many such movements against feudal lords in India.
Also read: Kumaraswamy might be Karnataka CM, but big brother Revanna remains ‘Super CM’
Of late, the district has emerged as a hotbed of Hindutva politics and is a stronghold of Yeddyurappa, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president. Yeddyurappa has lost just two elections from the district: The 1991 assembly election and the 1999 parliamentary elections.
Add to this the fact that the bypoll comes just months ahead of the Lok Sabha election, and it’s clear that the three candidates — Yeddyurappa, Patel and Bangarappa’s sons — have their task cut out for them.
Whoever is elected, will be in office for just six months. Here’s a brief profile of the candidates.
B.Y. RAGHAVENDRA
Son of: B.S. Yeddyurappa
Party: BJP
Bookanakere Yeddyurappa Raghavendra, Yeddyurappa’s eldest son, has always worked in the shadow of his father. Although he has spent close to a decade in politics, the former MP and MLA has not been able to chalk out a strong political path of his own. All his election campaigns have invoked his father’s name.
Raghvendra has been actively working in Shivamogga, but many in the BJP believe he has still not developed the political acumen or ability to match the stature of his father. He is still called “Yeddyurappa’s son”, a tag he is trying hard to shake off.
Also read: BJP launches Op Kamala 3.0 to topple Karnataka’s JD(S)-Congress govt
If one were to identify one characteristic of Raghavendra the politician, it would be that he has tried to groom himself as a people’s leader, a man who is easily accessible and does not carry any airs about his political lineage.
His training took place as he weathered the heat and dust of the campaign trail for his father, which helped him connect with locals better.
In 2013, he was suspended by the BJP for anti-party activities, but was brought right back as he is one of Yeddyurappa’s trusted lieutenants.
Given its performance in this year’s assembly election, where the BJP emerged as the single-largest player, the party is confident that Raghavendra will win the seat.
MADHU BANGARAPPA
Son of: S. Bangarappa
Party: Janata Dal (Secular)
Contesting on a JD(S) ticket, Madhu Bangarappa, a former BJP member, has been quoted as saying that he is confident of winning the bypoll because he had sensed an “anti-BJP wave” in the constituency.
Earlier this year, in the assembly election, he was defeated by his elder brother Kumar, a BJP candidate, in their father’s former constituency Soraba, an assembly seat in Shivamogga.
The Shivamogga Lok Sabha seat, too, was once held by Bangarappa senior, who lost his last election here, in 2009, to Raghavendra. Bangarappa senior died two years later.
Also read: Three reasons why Siddaramaiah is not letting Karnataka CM Kumaraswamy rule in peace
Insiders in the BJP whisper that the RSS has been quite unhappy with Yeddyurappa and they are not putting their full weight behind Raghavendra this time. Madhu’s confidence also comes from the fact that in the 2018 assembly election, the JD(S) came a close second in the eight assembly segments that make up the Shivamogga parliamentary constituency.
Moreover, Bangarappa belongs to the Idiga community, which is in majority in Soraba, Thirthahalli, Baiyandoor and the surrounding regions.
MAHIMA PATEL
Son of: J.H. Patel
Party: Janata Dal (U)
Mahima currently leads Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) in Karnataka.
Patel is a businessman, and political analysts say his plunge into politics is only aimed at keeping the legacy of his father alive. Mahima has claimed he will fight this election without money or muscle power.
Patel senior, a veteran socialist, was known for his path-breaking policies and sharp politicking. It is this ideology of his father that Patel championed to gain acceptance into the JD(U). He is a member of the Lingayat community, the largest in Karnataka and the same as Raghavendra.
Also Read: Karnataka’s political situation remains fluid over the Lingayat question
The Congress is said to be discreetly and strategically backing Patel’s candidature to ensure that the caste votes split between him and Raghavendra, thus giving Bangarappa an edge. The Congress and the JD(S) are allies in the state.