Located 32 kms from Bangalore, the constituency is crying for basic amenities. The entire Doddaballapur town does not have a single decent road worth its name. And this has been the state of the constituency for long time.
It comprises of four hoblies -- Saslu, Doddabelahongla, Kasaba and Madure.

But now candidates, perhaps for the first time, are talking about better roads, clean and 24-hour drinking water and proper drainage system. They are promising voters that they will turn the face of the constituency within a few days, if elected to represent them in the assembly.

Tough fight

Delimitation has ensured tough competition this time, forcing the candidates in the fray to heed to people’s cry for development.

Former minister C Chennigappa, whose home constituency Koratagere was obliterated after delimitation, is a JD(S) candidate. He is making all out effort to wrest the seat from Congress’ Narasimhaswamy, who is the son of veteran politician R L Jalappa.

Though Doddaballapur is a Congress’ bastion, it is having sleepless nights in these elections -- Tubgere hobli, which is the native place of Jalappa, has now gone to Devanahalli constituency. Thubgere voters had solidly stood behind Jalappa.

While the Congress is branded as anti-development in the constituency, the JD(S) candidate is seen as an outsider. Candidates of both parties are making full use of these issues to lure the voters.

As per the caste combination, Vokkaligas form highest number of voters with around 60,000 followed by SCs and STs with around 50,000. However, Vokkaliga votes are likely to be divided between Chennigappa and BJP’s Narayana Gowda, who are Vokkaligas. The BJP candidate is a known name in the constituency, and he has unsuccessfully contested twice. As a result, caste may not be a decisive factor in Doddaballpur.