Mandya (Karnataka), The contest between a former Chief Minister and a politician is being projected as a fight between an "outsider" and a "local" in the ruling Congress, leading to a contest for the JD(S) in this key Lok Sabha seat. The stakes have increased. Vote in this 'Sakkare Nadu'(Sugar Land).
The Vokkaliga-dominated, predominantly agrarian constituency is set to see a face-off between the JD(S) leader and former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy, who is contesting as a joint candidate of his party and its alliance partners BJP and Congress. Venkataramane Gowda, popularly known as 'Star Chandru', contractor.
While Kumaraswamy is from Hassan district and largely operates from Ramanagara in the neighboring state, Gowda is from Nagamangala taluk. Mandya is located between Bengaluru and Mysuru.The old Mysore region, the bastion of Vokkaliga politics, is known for the rivalry between the Congress and JD(S) for gaining ground, while the BJP is relatively weak here but has been gaining strength in recent years.
Winning this seat is important for Kumaraswamy, son of former Prime Minister H Deve Gowda, and Vokkaliga leaders of the Congress, especially Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress president DK Shivakumar, to consolidate their influence over the region and the community. In 2019, the actor-turned-politician supported the BJP. Independent Sumalatha Ambareesh won by defeating Nikhil, son of the then Kumaraswamy and a joint candidate of the ruling Congress-JD(S) alliance, by 1,25,876 votes.
Although Sumalatha sought a ticket from the BJP for re-election, the saffron party gave the seat to its alliance partner JD(S), and also managed to convince her that Kumaraswamy would meet her later. Sumalatha announced her decision to opt out of the election last week and join the BJP.He is yet to campaign for them.
The regional party, once considered a JD(S) stronghold, now has just one MLA in the district. The Congress has its strength with six MLAs, including a minister and two MLCs. A party leader said the JD(S) initially looked to be on the backfoot in Mandya, but those with personal connect and connect with the voters here are Kumaraswamy's entry into the election field energized the party cadre and boosted their morale.
The Congress, which is aiming to capture Mandya after a gap of 10 years, had made the announcement much earlier on the candidature of Star Chandru, brother of independent Gauribidanur MLA K H Puttaswamy Gowda, who supported the Congress in the Rajya Sabha elections earlier this year. did.The oldest party is optimistic of their victory, banking on their growing strength in district and state government guarantee schemes. "However, agriculture and irrigation issues, drought here, despite the drought here, Tamil Nadu has to face the Kaveri River," a party said. The release of water and the perception that the state government did not do much to stop it may have some adverse impact on the Congress' prospects." The officer said.
A political analyst said, "Speculations about Kumaraswamy becoming a Union minister in the event of ND returning to power, while star Chandru will remain a mere MP, may resonate among the public." "Possible resentment among Vokkaliga voters in the district over Shivkumar, who hails from the community, not being made CMR after the Assembly elections could also be affected."
On their part, Shivakumar and other Congress leaders have tried to portray Kumaraswamy as an outsider.Shivakumar alleged that Kumaraswamy has left the people of Ramanagara and Channapatna and come to Mandya, saying, "He is like a touring talkie who is going from one place to another." Calling himself a son of the soil of Mandya, star Chandru said, 'People of Mandi have seen earlier that people from outside come here and select them by calling them Anna (elder brother), Tam (younger brother) and promising to live with them. But after being elected he is not accessible, but from here I will always be with the people.
Kumaraswamy is hoping to win on the basis of his personal appeal and goodwill among Mandya voters and consolidation of the Vokkaliga vote base, apart from the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the support of the BJP.
A JD(S) leader said, “The strength of the Congress in the district and the shift of JD(S)'s core vote base away from the party, which was seen during the assembly elections, is still a major concern."He also said that there is an urgent need for BJP and JD(S) workers to work together on the ground to shift votes to the saffron party in favor of Kumaraswamy. For this, the active support of Sumalatha and local BJP leaders will go a long way. .
Highlighting the contribution of Mandya district in giving political strength to himself and his party, Kumaraswamy called it the "heart of JD(S), saying that the party's strength in Mandya has weakened for some time now, and the people and JD (S) workers want He has also expressed his ambition to become the Union Agriculture Minister for the development of the district and the growth of the party here.
“Definitely there is Modi wave in Mandya also and with Kumaraswamy contesting in this Vokkaliga belt, BJP and JD(S) are sure to win from here. People do not know about Star Chandru.Siddaramaiah is here (as CM), but we want Modi in Delhi," said an office goer in Maddur. A young voter in Mandya said, "Kumaraswamy comes when he is needed and Mandya's Speaking of which, he is not available later. He can contest the elections but Star Chandru will win."
Mandya has eight assembly constituencies, of which six are represented by the Congress and one each by the JD(S) and Sarvodaya Karnataka parties.
The Vokkaliga-dominated, predominantly agrarian constituency is set to see a face-off between the JD(S) leader and former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy, who is contesting as a joint candidate of his party and its alliance partners BJP and Congress. Venkataramane Gowda, popularly known as 'Star Chandru', contractor.
While Kumaraswamy is from Hassan district and largely operates from Ramanagara in the neighboring state, Gowda is from Nagamangala taluk. Mandya is located between Bengaluru and Mysuru.The old Mysore region, the bastion of Vokkaliga politics, is known for the rivalry between the Congress and JD(S) for gaining ground, while the BJP is relatively weak here but has been gaining strength in recent years.
Winning this seat is important for Kumaraswamy, son of former Prime Minister H Deve Gowda, and Vokkaliga leaders of the Congress, especially Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress president DK Shivakumar, to consolidate their influence over the region and the community. In 2019, the actor-turned-politician supported the BJP. Independent Sumalatha Ambareesh won by defeating Nikhil, son of the then Kumaraswamy and a joint candidate of the ruling Congress-JD(S) alliance, by 1,25,876 votes.
Although Sumalatha sought a ticket from the BJP for re-election, the saffron party gave the seat to its alliance partner JD(S), and also managed to convince her that Kumaraswamy would meet her later. Sumalatha announced her decision to opt out of the election last week and join the BJP.He is yet to campaign for them.
The regional party, once considered a JD(S) stronghold, now has just one MLA in the district. The Congress has its strength with six MLAs, including a minister and two MLCs. A party leader said the JD(S) initially looked to be on the backfoot in Mandya, but those with personal connect and connect with the voters here are Kumaraswamy's entry into the election field energized the party cadre and boosted their morale.
The Congress, which is aiming to capture Mandya after a gap of 10 years, had made the announcement much earlier on the candidature of Star Chandru, brother of independent Gauribidanur MLA K H Puttaswamy Gowda, who supported the Congress in the Rajya Sabha elections earlier this year. did.The oldest party is optimistic of their victory, banking on their growing strength in district and state government guarantee schemes. "However, agriculture and irrigation issues, drought here, despite the drought here, Tamil Nadu has to face the Kaveri River," a party said. The release of water and the perception that the state government did not do much to stop it may have some adverse impact on the Congress' prospects." The officer said.
A political analyst said, "Speculations about Kumaraswamy becoming a Union minister in the event of ND returning to power, while star Chandru will remain a mere MP, may resonate among the public." "Possible resentment among Vokkaliga voters in the district over Shivkumar, who hails from the community, not being made CMR after the Assembly elections could also be affected."
On their part, Shivakumar and other Congress leaders have tried to portray Kumaraswamy as an outsider.Shivakumar alleged that Kumaraswamy has left the people of Ramanagara and Channapatna and come to Mandya, saying, "He is like a touring talkie who is going from one place to another." Calling himself a son of the soil of Mandya, star Chandru said, 'People of Mandi have seen earlier that people from outside come here and select them by calling them Anna (elder brother), Tam (younger brother) and promising to live with them. But after being elected he is not accessible, but from here I will always be with the people.
Kumaraswamy is hoping to win on the basis of his personal appeal and goodwill among Mandya voters and consolidation of the Vokkaliga vote base, apart from the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the support of the BJP.
A JD(S) leader said, “The strength of the Congress in the district and the shift of JD(S)'s core vote base away from the party, which was seen during the assembly elections, is still a major concern."He also said that there is an urgent need for BJP and JD(S) workers to work together on the ground to shift votes to the saffron party in favor of Kumaraswamy. For this, the active support of Sumalatha and local BJP leaders will go a long way. .
Highlighting the contribution of Mandya district in giving political strength to himself and his party, Kumaraswamy called it the "heart of JD(S), saying that the party's strength in Mandya has weakened for some time now, and the people and JD (S) workers want He has also expressed his ambition to become the Union Agriculture Minister for the development of the district and the growth of the party here.
“Definitely there is Modi wave in Mandya also and with Kumaraswamy contesting in this Vokkaliga belt, BJP and JD(S) are sure to win from here. People do not know about Star Chandru.Siddaramaiah is here (as CM), but we want Modi in Delhi," said an office goer in Maddur. A young voter in Mandya said, "Kumaraswamy comes when he is needed and Mandya's Speaking of which, he is not available later. He can contest the elections but Star Chandru will win."
Mandya has eight assembly constituencies, of which six are represented by the Congress and one each by the JD(S) and Sarvodaya Karnataka parties.
