<p class="byline">A Congress citadel since India’s first general election, Raichur Lok Sabha Constituency had been represented by the incumbent B V Naik once and his father A V Venkatesh Naik four times.</p>.<p>Raichur, known for sweltering heat, power generation and gold mines, is witnessing fight among five candidates for the Lok Sabha seat. There is a direct contest between the BJP and the Congress in this Scheduled Tribe (ST) reserved constituency where women voters outnumber men.</p>.<p>The BJP has pitted Raja Amareshwara Naik, an incorrigible party hopper, belonging to royal family of Guragunta and Shorapur, against Congress’ sitting MP B V Naik. </p>.<p>Political analysts term the Parliamentary poll as a battle between Naiks. BJP MLA from Devadurga Shivangouda Naik, a nephew of Venkatesh Naik, is attempting to settle scores with B V Naik as the latter defeated the former by a narrow margin of 1,499 votes in the 2014 Lok Sabha poll.</p>.<p>“Shivanagouda ensured Amareshwara’s induction into the BJP. He succeeded in convincing the party leadership to field Amareshwara for a bitter rivalry he shares with B V Naik,” points out a BJP functionary.</p>.<p>The anti-incumbency and Modi wave have put the incumbent’s poll prospects in danger. At every step there is simmering anger and disappointment against him. </p>.<p>“He is out of our reach. As regards development, situation is as it was in 2014,” Devadurga farmer Ajjayya Hiremath’s words indicate tough battle for the MP.</p>.<p>Mehaboob Pasha, a garage owner at Manvi, admits that the MP is simple and humble.<br />“Even Amareshwara is also simple and humble. But will it solve our woes?” he asks implying displeasure over the MP’s performance.</p>.<p>There are about 3.80 lakh SCs, 3.50 lakh STs, 3 lakh Lingayats, 2.60 lakh Muslims, 1.90 Gangamathasthas and 2 lakh voters belonging to other communities. As the two candidates belong to the ST, split of votes is imminent.</p>.<p>The BJP is making a determined bid to wrest the constituency. Team Modi members have been highlighting failure of the father-son duo in the last 25 years to develop the constituency.</p>.<p>The past electoral behaviour indicates that the Lingayats’ choice has been decisive in the victory of candidates.<br />State BJP president B S Yeddyurappa’s popularity among Lingayats is good news for Amareshwara.</p>.<p>The incumbent’s fate depends on a number of permutations and combinations. </p>.<p>“BJP’s Manappa Vajjal, a great pal of B V Naik, remained neutral in the 2014 Lok Sabha poll ensuring over 12,000 lead to Congress from Lingasgur. Naik’s fate largely depends on Vajjal’s move this time,” says a local Congress leader.</p>.<p>There are reports that Yeddyurappa has requested Vajjal to ensure lead for the BJP nominee.</p>
<p class="byline">A Congress citadel since India’s first general election, Raichur Lok Sabha Constituency had been represented by the incumbent B V Naik once and his father A V Venkatesh Naik four times.</p>.<p>Raichur, known for sweltering heat, power generation and gold mines, is witnessing fight among five candidates for the Lok Sabha seat. There is a direct contest between the BJP and the Congress in this Scheduled Tribe (ST) reserved constituency where women voters outnumber men.</p>.<p>The BJP has pitted Raja Amareshwara Naik, an incorrigible party hopper, belonging to royal family of Guragunta and Shorapur, against Congress’ sitting MP B V Naik. </p>.<p>Political analysts term the Parliamentary poll as a battle between Naiks. BJP MLA from Devadurga Shivangouda Naik, a nephew of Venkatesh Naik, is attempting to settle scores with B V Naik as the latter defeated the former by a narrow margin of 1,499 votes in the 2014 Lok Sabha poll.</p>.<p>“Shivanagouda ensured Amareshwara’s induction into the BJP. He succeeded in convincing the party leadership to field Amareshwara for a bitter rivalry he shares with B V Naik,” points out a BJP functionary.</p>.<p>The anti-incumbency and Modi wave have put the incumbent’s poll prospects in danger. At every step there is simmering anger and disappointment against him. </p>.<p>“He is out of our reach. As regards development, situation is as it was in 2014,” Devadurga farmer Ajjayya Hiremath’s words indicate tough battle for the MP.</p>.<p>Mehaboob Pasha, a garage owner at Manvi, admits that the MP is simple and humble.<br />“Even Amareshwara is also simple and humble. But will it solve our woes?” he asks implying displeasure over the MP’s performance.</p>.<p>There are about 3.80 lakh SCs, 3.50 lakh STs, 3 lakh Lingayats, 2.60 lakh Muslims, 1.90 Gangamathasthas and 2 lakh voters belonging to other communities. As the two candidates belong to the ST, split of votes is imminent.</p>.<p>The BJP is making a determined bid to wrest the constituency. Team Modi members have been highlighting failure of the father-son duo in the last 25 years to develop the constituency.</p>.<p>The past electoral behaviour indicates that the Lingayats’ choice has been decisive in the victory of candidates.<br />State BJP president B S Yeddyurappa’s popularity among Lingayats is good news for Amareshwara.</p>.<p>The incumbent’s fate depends on a number of permutations and combinations. </p>.<p>“BJP’s Manappa Vajjal, a great pal of B V Naik, remained neutral in the 2014 Lok Sabha poll ensuring over 12,000 lead to Congress from Lingasgur. Naik’s fate largely depends on Vajjal’s move this time,” says a local Congress leader.</p>.<p>There are reports that Yeddyurappa has requested Vajjal to ensure lead for the BJP nominee.</p>
