Chitradurga: A triangular contest with focus on local issues

Assembly constituencies: 8
Total electorate:  16, 37,814
Candidates in fray: 16 
Sitting MP:  Janardhana Swamy Reddy (BJP)

Having won the constituency nine times Congress had a firm grip on this constituency until Janata Dal put an end to Congress party’s dominance in 1996.  In 2009 the BJP tasted success here when its candidate Janardhana Swamy trounced Dr B Thippeswamy of the Congress party by over 1, 35,000 votes. The constituency is dominated by the Madiga community   comprising about 1/3 of the total electorate.  In this election Congress has fielded B N Chandrappa  and JD (S)  Goolihatti Shekar who lived up to his name  by standing on the table inside the assembly and ripped his shirt open  during the trust vote of former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa.  

In 2009 with an eye on the Madiga community votes the Congress had fielded Thippeswamy who belongs to this community.  But the internal fight within the Congress and a strong pro-BJP wave proved to be his undoing.   It seems the Congress has not learnt a lesson from this experience as the party has failed project itself as a united force.   Congress leader Dr Thippeswamy who had lost to Janardhanaswamy in 2009 had filed nomination papers as a rebel candidate after failing to secure the seat for him.  However, good sense prevailed and he withdrew it on the last day.

Janardhana Swamy (BJP), BN Chandrappa (Cong), Goolihatti Chandrashekar (JDS)

The constituency is witnessing a triangular fight here as JD(S) has fielded a known turncoat   Goolihatti Shekar, who tasted defeat in 2013 assembly elections from Hosadurga.  Chitradurga is a reserved constituency for SC and sitting MP Janardhanaswamy is known as an honest and pro-people leader.  He is known for his capacity for getting the central grant directly to the constituency.  The only grouse against him is that he has not responded positively to the aspirations of the party workers.   The worrisome aspect for him is that his opponent from JD(S) Goolihatti Shekar belongs to the same Bovi community, to which he too belongs and that might divide the community votes which might benefit the Congress. 

Goolihatti is also eyeing the traditional Vokkaliga and Yadava votes apart from banking on the votes of his own community. But his reputation of being a party hopper is something that might work against him. 

For the people of the constituency the only dream is to get proper irrigation facilities and also find a permanent solution to the drinking water problem.  Completing upper Bhadra Project would be a solution to these twin problems. Naturally they will be inclined towards the party which is capable of completing the Upper Bhadra project.  

Bavana, a transgender, who runs a daba is also contesting as an independent candidate apart from candidates from AAP, SP, BSP and JD (U).

Tumkur:  A prestigious triangular contest  

Assembly constituencies: 8
Total electorate: 
Candidates in the fray:   16
Sitting MP:  G S Basavaraj (BJP)

As JD(S) represents four assembly seats here as against three of the Congress and one of BJP, Tumkur can be termed as JD(S) bastion.  Naturally the constituency is witnessing a triangular contest and winning it will be a matter of prestige for all the three major players.  Interestingly,   Sitting MP  Basavaraj who is a  four time MP from this constituency  had won the elections three times as a Congress candidate  and once on BJP ticket.  His rivals in the fray A Krishnappa of JD(S), who is the JD(S) state president and S P Mudduhanumegowda of Congress whom he had defeated in the 2009 elections when he was the JD(S) nominee by a margin of 21,445 votes. 

GS Basavaraj (BJP), A Krishnappa (JDS), Mudduhanumegowda (Cong)

There is much in stake for all the three major contenders.  For the Congress Mudduhanumegowda’s victory will be of great consequence as KPCCI Presdient G Parameshwar hails from here.  For Chief Minister Siddaramaigh too it is matter of great importance to ensure the victory of the Congress candidate.   For JD(S) a victory for its state president would be a great moreale booster as the party’s strength is declining due to desertions.  

Though Basavaraj’s candidature was opposed by Congress leaders of the district unit he was successful in getting the ticket due to the influence of B S Yeddyurappa who had demanded Tumkur, Haveri and Udupi constituencies for his supporters.  This internal strife within the BJP might affect the prospects of the BJP candidate. At the same time it cannot be denied that Basavaraj has his own individual clout in the area and is capable of winning irrespective of the party.

The Congress party has been working relentlessly to ensure a victory for Muddahanumegowda and being the ruling party it has the advantage as compared to his rivals. 

If Basavaraj is able to retain the constituency it would add to the stature of Yeddyurappa in the BJP.       

Mandya: Congress hopes sweet results from sugar belt of state

Assembly constituencies: 8  
Total Electorate: 16,41,671
Candidates in the fray: 16
Sitting M P: Ramya (Congress)

It was just eight months ago that actor-turned politician Ramya contested and won from Mandya by a margin of over 67,000 votes defeating her rival C S Puttaraju of JD(S).  That made her the youngest MP at 31.  The constituency is once again witnessing the fight between these two rivals.  The BJP has fielded a political novice in Prof B Shivalingaih, an educationist who is making his political debut in this constituency. 

Though nothing has changed in the last eight months the infighting in the Congress has reached its crescendo due to the open and ugly war between Congress veterans S M Krishna and actor Ambareesh, two prominent Vokkaliga leaders of the party who hail from Mandya.

Ramya (Cong), C S Puttaraju (JDS), Prof B Shivalingaih (BJP)

Though it is well known for quite some time that Krishna and Ambareesh cannot get along well, during these elections their animosity has come out in the open and this has cast a big shadow on the prospects of Ramya retaining her seat.  Both these leaders, who belong to the Vokkaliga community, wield considerable influence in Mandya and the infighting between these two groups  is causing headache for the Congress leaders.  It would be a shame and embarrassment for the Congress if it loses the constituency because of infighting. This infighting had disastrous results for the Congress in 2013 elections as it cost lost two assembly seats for the party. Congressmen do not wish to make such mistakes again but the situation has gone beyond control. The ill-health of Ambareesh, who was unwell for the last one month, was another big setback for the Congress which was deprived of the services of this star actor.
 
JD(S) candidate Puttaraju is concentrating his efforts to grab the traditional JD(S) votes.   Puttaraju’s name is linked to the illegal site allotment case of Mandya Urban Development Authority.  Apart from this his opponents are also seeking action against him for conducting blasts near Krishnaraja Sagar. 

BJP candidate Shivalingaiah, who owns several educational institutions in the district, is a political novice.   Apart from the support of traditional BJP voters he is banking on the popularity of his wife Meera Shivalingaiah who is the President of Mandya district Kannada Sahitya Parishat.  

If the Congress leaders give up their ego trips and fight unitedly (which is unlikely) it is not difficult to ensure the victory for Ramya.    Nonetheless, Mandya is going to witness a keen contest and the very uncertainty is what drives the candidates campaign harder.

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