Positioned alongside the Karnataka-Andhra Pradesh border, Chikkaballapur was a Congress stronghold in 10 Lok Sabha polls between 1977 and 2014. It’s now among the many south Karnataka constituencies the place the BJP hopes its alliance with the JD(S) will assist it win.
Chikkaballapur is a part of the belt the place the Vokkaliga neighborhood is dominant. In line with estimates, the neighborhood constitutes round a 3rd of the inhabitants within the constituency, which additionally has a sizeable variety of Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, Lingayat, Balija and minority voters.
The Congress gained Chikkaballapur 5 instances between 1977 and 1991 and as many instances between 1998 and 2014. It was in 1996 that the Congress first tasted defeat right here, when RL Jalappa gained the seat for the Janata Dal. Its second loss was more moderen, in 2019, when the BJP’s BN Bache Gowda defeated former Union minister Veerappa Moily.
The BJP has fielded a member of the Vokkaliga neighborhood, Dr Okay Sudhakar, who was well being minister within the Basavaraj Bommai-led BJP authorities within the state. Like Congress candidate Raksha Ramaiah, Sudhakar, who represented Chikkaballapur thrice within the Meeting, can also be going through his maiden Lok Sabha ballot.
Preliminary hiccups in BJP marketing campaign
Although the BJP is taken into account the favorite to retain the seat with assist from the JD(S), a Vokkaliga get together, Sudhakar’s marketing campaign confronted preliminary hiccups over disgruntlement throughout the BJP camp over fielding the previous minister.
Sudhakar was amongst those that jumped ship to the BJP throughout “operation lotus” in 2019, and isn’t extremely popular amongst a piece of BJP leaders. MLA SR Vishwanath, whose Yelahanka phase is a part of Chikkaballapur Lok Sabha constituency, had an angry exchange with Sudhakar early in April, earlier than the 2 known as truce over a breakfast assembly.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda collectively campaigned for Sudhakar lately at Chikkaballapur. In line with native BJP leaders, this has galvanised the alliance cadres and they’re working arduous to make sure the BJP wins.
Sudhakar is leveraging the contributions he had made as a Chikkaballapur MLA and a minister. He has additionally launched a separate manifesto for the constituency and promised to launch yearly a progress report on the developmental work carried out.
“One of many key goals is to rework cities surrounding Bengaluru, similar to Hoskote, Devanahalli and Nelamangala as satellite tv for pc cities,” he mentioned. Precedence will even be for bettering amenities for farmers who develop flowers within the area, in line with Sudhakar.
For the 38-year previous Raksha Ramaiah, whose household runs the MS Ramaiah Group of Establishments, his household’s outreach programmes within the area are key. That the Karnataka authorities’s assure schemes are widespread in rural areas is one other issue on which the Youth Congress nationwide basic secretary is banking on.
“The bottom actuality is that throughout Karnataka there’s a wave in favour of the Congress. The youth, girls and seniors are with the get together,” he mentioned.
Ramaiah’s main focus shall be on bettering literacy because the area lags behind a number of different components of the state on that depend.
Whereas the BJP cadre is assured of successful the seat, it is usually cautious of the Congress assure schemes. “But, our prospects have improved in rural areas. There’s a swing following Modi’s marketing campaign,” mentioned Arun Varadahalli, a BJP supporter.
Congress employees, in the meantime, notice that six of the eight segments of the constituency have get together MLAs, which is a significant enhance to its prospects. “Congress has a powerful presence right here and other people have backed the get together over time. This time round, resulting from ensures, we’re getting loads of assist,” mentioned Sandeep from Gauribidanur, a Congress employee.
In the meantime, there are additionally apprehensions amongst a piece of Congress employees that the theatrics of first-time Chikkaballapur MLA Pradeep Eshwar might be counter-productive. “If the get together management doesn’t rein him in, it can damage the Congress prospects additional,” mentioned a pacesetter of the get together, requesting anonymity.
Chikkaballapur will vote on Friday within the second part of the Lok Sabha elections.