In reality, it is an acid test to Karadi Sanganna, the BJP candidate. Sanganna, previously elected from the JD(S), had resigned from the Legislative Assembly and joined the BJP under ‘Operation Lotus,’ paving the way for the byelection.
As a matter of fact, his success or defeat will not in any way affect the BJP Government in the State. Nor will it affect Yeddyurappa. However, for Sanganna it has become a make or break election as he has to build a image for himself in his newly adopted party.
It may be recalled that Sanganna gained his maiden entry into the Legislative Assembly in 1994, when he contested as an Independent candidate. He won the 1999 Assembly elections on a JD(S) ticket. But in 2004, when he contested on a BJP ticket, he was defeated. In 2008 elections, Sanganna was again elected from the JD(S) ticket. But on March 3, this year, he resigned from the Assembly and joined the BJP.
The BJP is yet to open its account in Koppal. Given the history that none of the BJP candidates won the elections previously, Sanganna faces a tough challenge ahead. The party has been contesting the elections since 1972, but is yet to taste victory here. This time, the BJP is hell bent on winning the election.
Congress candidate K Basavaraj Hitnal had won the 2004 elections against Sanganna and in this election too, Hitnal faces Sanganna.
Though JD(S) candidate Pradeepgowda Patil, a Lingayat, is contesting the bypoll for the first time, his candidature cannot be ignored. Since Koppal has the largest voter base belonging to the Lingayat community, he is all set to garner a large number of votes.
The only hope for Sanganna this time is his party, BJP, is in power.
