Lok Sabha polls: South Karnataka braces for fierce battle between Congress and BJP-JD(S) combine

The Congress and JD(S) win, in fact, came in the old Mysuru region — Bangalore Rural and Hassan, respectively, while the Mandya seat went to an independent backed by the BJP.

This time, the JD(S) has an alliance with the BJP. According to sources, the JD(S) is likely to be allotted Hassan, Mandya and Kolar seats in the region, from where Deve Gowda’s party draws its strength in Karnataka.

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JD(S) looking to bounce back

The JD(S) is now looking to bounce back after the drubbing it received in the May Assembly polls.

The Congress and JD(S) are considered to be traditional rivals in the region, where the BJP has also been improving its vote share.

The BJP-JD(S) alliance hopes to counter the Congress’ surge in the region, determined to consolidate Vokkaliga votes in their favour and banking on Modi’s charisma. Both parties also hope to gain from each other with this alliance.

The Congress is hoping to further its prospects and continue its dominance in the region, with the help of its strong local leadership and riding on its five guarantee schemes.

Both Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Congress state president DK Shivakumar, who is also the Deputy Chief Minister come from this region, and so does JD(S) patriarch Deve Gowda and his son HD Kumaraswamy, a former chief minister and that party’s state president.

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Coordination is the key

According to a political analyst, “coordination among local leaders and transfer of votes between the parties are going to be key for the BJP-JD(S) alliance to click.”

Lack of trust between sizeable workers and leaders of both parties on the ground had proved to be counterproductive for the Congress and the JD(S) combine in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, resulting in their rout and helping the BJP.

Both Congress and BJP have announced candidates for some seats in the region for the 2024 polls.

The Congress has re-nominated DK Suresh, brother of Shivakumar, from Bangalore Rural.

Interestingly, the BJP has fielded the scion of the erstwhile Mysuru royal family Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar from Mysore and noted cardiac surgeon and Deve Gowda’s son-in-law, Dr CN Manjunath, from Bangalore Rural.

In Karnataka, the Lok Sabha elections will be held in two phases on 26 April and 7 May.

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