<p>The incumbent BJP MP Bhagwanth Khuba, who is seeking re-election, is facing a tough road ahead in the BJP and Lingayat bastion.</p>.<p>Khuba is taking on the coalition nominee and three-time Bhalki MLA Eshwar Khandre, son of former minister Bhimanna Khandre, in a contest, between two Lingayat leaders, that is expected to go down to the wire.</p>.<p>While Khuba is hoping to ride the Modi wave, Khandre is upbeat of breaching the BJP citadel (in Parliamentary elections) with the help of clout the Khandre family wields in Bidar and with the support of three ministers of the district.</p>.<p>But for Khuba, there are no leaders in the BJP who can make an impact on voters of the segment. Compared to Khuba, Khandre, who is also a general secretary of Akhil Bharat Veerashaiva Mahasabha, has a strong network in most of the villages of the Lingayat dominant district. His father Bheemanna Khandre, a veteran Congman, is still a big name in Bidar politics.</p>.<p>Although the picture appears rosy for Khandre, he cannot afford to overlook the strong undercurrent of pro-Modi wave in the constituency, similar to one that catapulted Khuba to the Parliament in the previous election.</p>.<p>The saffron party has a strong base at the grassroots, more so, in Marathi-speaking border villages in the segment. Ramachandra Veerappa of BJP won this segment four times in a row since 1991. In 2004, however, he lost to Narasinghrao Suryavamsi of Congress. Post-delimitation, former chief minister late Dharam Singh was elected in 2009 but he was trounced in 2014 by Khuba, a political greenhorn.</p>.<p>With both Khandre and Khubha being Lingayats, the community votes are likely to be split between the duo. Lingayats have been considered as vote bank of the BJP. But, with Khandre in the fray, it will be a different ball game altogether.</p>.<p>Marathi-speaking people, who are in large numbers in Bhalki, Aurad and Basavakalyan Assembly segments, are the traditional voters of the BJP for Lok Sabha elections. But Khandre is likely to make a foray into the Marathi areas in border villages and towns as he had carried out a slew of development works as district in-charge and municipal administration minister in the Siddaramaiah government.</p>.<p>Muslim and Scheduled Caste (right) votes are in the Congress kitty. Also, BSP candidate Shanul Haq Bukhari is unlikely to make an impact. Going by these factors, the grand-old party seems to be sitting pretty now.</p>.<p>Former minister Basavaraj Patil Attur said, “Khuba won last time solely on Modi wave. He has done nothing noteworthy as MP. Youth in rural areas are chanting Modi mantra. Neck-and-neck fight is expected”.</p>.<p>Eshwar Khandre exuded confidence that he would emerge victorious as Khuba failed on all front. “Though Lingayats supported the BJP in the previous Lok Sabha polls, I will get the majority of the community votes this time,” he said.</p>
<p>The incumbent BJP MP Bhagwanth Khuba, who is seeking re-election, is facing a tough road ahead in the BJP and Lingayat bastion.</p>.<p>Khuba is taking on the coalition nominee and three-time Bhalki MLA Eshwar Khandre, son of former minister Bhimanna Khandre, in a contest, between two Lingayat leaders, that is expected to go down to the wire.</p>.<p>While Khuba is hoping to ride the Modi wave, Khandre is upbeat of breaching the BJP citadel (in Parliamentary elections) with the help of clout the Khandre family wields in Bidar and with the support of three ministers of the district.</p>.<p>But for Khuba, there are no leaders in the BJP who can make an impact on voters of the segment. Compared to Khuba, Khandre, who is also a general secretary of Akhil Bharat Veerashaiva Mahasabha, has a strong network in most of the villages of the Lingayat dominant district. His father Bheemanna Khandre, a veteran Congman, is still a big name in Bidar politics.</p>.<p>Although the picture appears rosy for Khandre, he cannot afford to overlook the strong undercurrent of pro-Modi wave in the constituency, similar to one that catapulted Khuba to the Parliament in the previous election.</p>.<p>The saffron party has a strong base at the grassroots, more so, in Marathi-speaking border villages in the segment. Ramachandra Veerappa of BJP won this segment four times in a row since 1991. In 2004, however, he lost to Narasinghrao Suryavamsi of Congress. Post-delimitation, former chief minister late Dharam Singh was elected in 2009 but he was trounced in 2014 by Khuba, a political greenhorn.</p>.<p>With both Khandre and Khubha being Lingayats, the community votes are likely to be split between the duo. Lingayats have been considered as vote bank of the BJP. But, with Khandre in the fray, it will be a different ball game altogether.</p>.<p>Marathi-speaking people, who are in large numbers in Bhalki, Aurad and Basavakalyan Assembly segments, are the traditional voters of the BJP for Lok Sabha elections. But Khandre is likely to make a foray into the Marathi areas in border villages and towns as he had carried out a slew of development works as district in-charge and municipal administration minister in the Siddaramaiah government.</p>.<p>Muslim and Scheduled Caste (right) votes are in the Congress kitty. Also, BSP candidate Shanul Haq Bukhari is unlikely to make an impact. Going by these factors, the grand-old party seems to be sitting pretty now.</p>.<p>Former minister Basavaraj Patil Attur said, “Khuba won last time solely on Modi wave. He has done nothing noteworthy as MP. Youth in rural areas are chanting Modi mantra. Neck-and-neck fight is expected”.</p>.<p>Eshwar Khandre exuded confidence that he would emerge victorious as Khuba failed on all front. “Though Lingayats supported the BJP in the previous Lok Sabha polls, I will get the majority of the community votes this time,” he said.</p>
