JOIN USPublic campaigning for polling in 14 parliamentary constituencies of Karnataka concluded on Sunday, with leaders from all parties sweating it out to ensure victory for their candidate. Constituencies in the northern part of the state will go to polls on April 23, when the third phase of elections is held across the country.
Prominent candidates in the fray include Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, Union ministers Anant Kumar Hegde and Ramesh Jigajinagi, KPCC working president Eshwar Khandre and BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa’s son B Y Raghavendra. Of the 14 seats, Congress is contesting 12 seats and its coalition partner JD(S) two.
Two women are also in the fray — the Bagalkot Lok Sabha segment has its first woman candidate in Congress’ Veena Kashappanavar facing the BJP’s P C Gaddigoudar. In Bijapur, the JD(S) has fielded Sunitha Chavan against Jigajinagi. The JD(S) has picked Anand Asnotikar against Hegde in Uttara Kannada.
The constituencies witnessed hectic electioneering during the day despite searing heat with leaders from all political parties setting up base in various constituencies of North Karnataka.
Though Chief minister H D Kumaraswamy, who camped in Bhadravati of Shivamogga district, did not participate in any public rally due to health constraints, he held meetings with local leaders on strategies for door-to-door
campaigning.
Naidu hits roads
While Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu campaigned in Gangavathi and Sindhanur, co-ordination committee chairman Siddaramaiah attended multiple rallies in Bagalkot and Belagavi constituencies. Yeddyurappa held meetings in Shivamogga and Bhadravathi with leaders from various communities to ensure victory for his son Raghavendra. BJP leader K S Eshwarappa took part in road shows in Shivamogga and Davangere.
In Kalaburagi, All India Congress Committee general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad and BJP general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Muralidhar Rao campaigned for Kharge and Umesh Jadhav respectively.
Lingayat votes
Most of these 14 seats have a significant Veerashaiva-Lingayat population and the BJP is making the most of the controversial “separate Lingayat religion” issue in a bid to consolidate the community’s votes against the Congress.
The coalition, meanwhile, is banking on anti-incumbency of sitting Lok Sabha members and is highlighting the “anti-people polices.”’ of the Union government in its campaign.