Cong had won 11 times from Chikmagalur constituency

The Chikmagalur constituency which had once given re-birth to the Congress by electing former prime minister Indira Gandhi after emergency, is all set to face yet another parliamentary poll. 

Udupi-Chikmagalur constituency again helped the Congress to win the previous by-election, which was a moral boost to the Congress to win the next Assembly elections and come to power in the State. The constituency has a vibrant geographical structure from the Malnad to coastal region to planes. Chikmagalur district had shared the constituency with Hassan till 1967.

It was then demarcated and remained as Chikmagalur constituency till 2009. After the delimitation of constituencies, it was merged with Udupi constituency. 

Apart from four assembly constituencies--Sringeri, Mudigere, Chikmagalur and Tarikere--the constituency also comprises of four assembly constituencies from Udupi including Kundapur, Karkal, Kaup and Udupi. 

Of the 15 general elections and two by-polls, the Congress has won 11 times, the BJP has emerged victorious four times and the JD(S) and Democratic Socialist Party have won once each. 

In 1978, it was then MP D B Chandre Gowda, who resigned from his post and paved the way for Indira Gandhi to contest from the constituency. Indira won the election against Janata Party candidate Veerendra Patil.

In the 2009 election, BJP candidate D V Sadananda Gowda won the election from the constituency and had to resign from the post in 2012 as he was given the charge of chief minister, due to unexpected political developments in the State. 

In the by-polls, the BJP could not succeed  and Congress candidate Jayaprakash Hegde was elected. 

In the very first election to Chikmagalur constituency in 1952, H Siddhananjappa from Congress defeated S Shivappa from SP. In 1957 elections, Siddhananjappa was elected unopposed for the second time.

He attained the credit of hatrick win in 1962 elections. Political leaders who won the consecutive elections from this constituency are as follows: M Hucchegowda 1967 (Democratic Socialist Party), D B Chandre Gowda in 1971 and 1977 (Congress), Indira Gandhi in 1978 by-polls (Congress), D M Putte Gowda in 1980 (Congress), D K Tharadevi in 1984 (Congress), D M Puttue Gowda in 1989 (Congress),  D K Tharadevi in 1991 (Congress), B L Shankar in 1996 (JD(S), D C Srikantappa in 1998, 1999 and 2004 (BJP), D V Sadananda Gowda in 2009 (BJP), Jayaprakash Hegde in 2012 (Congress).
Of the 13 elections held for the Udupi constituency, Congress candidates have won 10 times, BJP candidates have won twice and Swarajya Party candidate has won once. 

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Oscar Fernandes had won from this constituency five times from 1980 to 1996. Manorama Madhwaraj emerged victorious as BJP candidate in 2004.

For the upcoming Lok Sabha election, the name of Jayaprakash Hegde and S Vijayakumar have been finalised from the Congress and CPI respectievly, while names of MLA C T Ravi or former minister Shobha Karandlaje are in the list of the BJP.