Political temperature is at its peak in Ramanagara (Karnataka), Bengaluru Rural Lok Sabha constituency, which is witnessing a bitter and close contest between members of two influential Vokkaliga-caste families, who have considerable clout here and the entire Old Mysore region.
This constituency was created after delimitation in 2008 and is spread over Ramanagara, Bengaluru Urban and Tumakuru districts of South Karnataka. It has a mix of rural and urban, with IT parks and industrial townships as well as farmland.
The Vokkaliga caste-dominated constituency is seeing a tough fight between Congress MP DK Suresh, brother of deputy chief minister and party state president DK Shivakumar, and JD(S)'s son-in-law and eminent cardiologist Dr C N Manjunath . Patriarch and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda.Interestingly, Manjunath is the state chief of JD(S) but is contesting the elections on a BJ ticket, as per the agreement between the alliance partners.
Shivakumar and Kumaraswamy represent Kanakapura and Channapatna assembly constituencies respectively, both of which are part of Bangalore Rural. Thus this high profile constituency has emerged as the most prestigious constituency in the state in the upcoming elections.
Bengaluru Rural is the only constituency in Karnataka where the Congress won in the 2019 general elections. Political analysts say it is important for Shivakumar to repeat the victory on home turf in 2024 to boost his chief ministerial chances.Both the Shivakumar and Gowda families are arch political rivals and have been fighting each other for political dominance in the region. Gowda won the Kanakapura Lok Sabha seat by defeating Shivakumar in the 2002 by-election, but lost it in 2004. His son Kumaraswamy won the seat in 1996, but lost in 1998 and 1999. He later won this seat after becoming Bengaluru Rural. In 2009.Suresh has been representing Bengaluru Rural since 2013. He defeated Kumaraswamy's wife Anita in the 2013 by-election.
The upcoming contest is also being seen as a battle between "a local and an outsider", as the Manjunath and Gowda families are originally from Hassa district, as well as a battle between two contrasting personalities. Manjunath, known for his mild manners and humility, headed the state-owned Senior Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research for 17 years before retiring in January this year.
He is a political greenhorn, being seen as an "underdog" challenging the established political power of the D brothers.Suresh, a three-time MP, is considered the political backbone and chief strategist of his brother Shivkumar due to his strong grassroots network in the area. According to local Congress leaders, the party is confident of his victory because of a large majority of Dalit and OBC votes. The votes of the minority community are uniting in its favour. "Now the fight will be over who will get the lion's share of Vokkaliga votes," said a leader.
"Voters, especially women, are supporting us because of our guarantee schemes. I am asking for 'coolie' (wage) for my work, I have raised my voice for Karnataka," Suresh said.Coming from Hassan, people are asking for votes here. “I am from here, people will decide.”
With Suresh's influence and his brother Shivakumar being the Vokkaliga face of the Congress as Deputy Chief Minister, he may look strong on paper, but the BJP-JD(S) alliance and Dr Manjunath's candidature pose a big challenge for him. Done. The local BJP leader said. Manjunath has a lot of goodwill among the people and many people do not see him as an outsider. The main reason for this, he said, is that many families have been treated at Jaydev, which he not only transformed into a premier cardiac institute but also impacted the lives of countless patients, especially the poor.
The leader said he is also counting on the Modi wave, the goodwill of Gowda and Kumaraswamy among the voters.Manjunath said, "BJP-JD(S) are working together, we are getting positive response, I am confident of victory. People want change, they will respond to the criticism against me." While efforts are being made to project Suresh as the future health minister, the BJP is also playing up Suresh's "separate nation" comment for the southern states to target him during the campaign. Congress, on its part, is targeting Gowda and his son to field his son-in-law from BJP.
Of the eight assembly constituencies under Bengaluru Rural, five are held by Congress, two by BJP and one by JD(S).
Political observers say the three assembly constituencies held by the BJP and JD(S) account for more than 50 per cent of the total voters in Bengaluru Rural, two of them in Bengaluru city limits and consolidation of their votes will pose a problem for the Congress. Can erect.However, pointing out that Suresh was the only Congress MP to win in 2019 despite the "Modi wave", he said the "DK brothers" will do everything to win the seat, as they know that any disturbance here will be exploited by Shivakumar. can be done. 'Political critics want to stop him from becoming the Chief Minister.'
This time there is a fight because BJP-JD(S) have fielded Dr Manjunath. Mallur, a farmer from Dodda in Channapatna, said, “Suresh is a local boy, he is hardworking and approachable. The doctor is not from here, Will he be able to reach? A voter from Magdi said, “Suresh is said to be a good worker, the work is still pending. Our vote is for Doctor, Modi, development and not for Congress because it is divide and rule. Do it, its stance is anti-Hindu."
This constituency was created after delimitation in 2008 and is spread over Ramanagara, Bengaluru Urban and Tumakuru districts of South Karnataka. It has a mix of rural and urban, with IT parks and industrial townships as well as farmland.
The Vokkaliga caste-dominated constituency is seeing a tough fight between Congress MP DK Suresh, brother of deputy chief minister and party state president DK Shivakumar, and JD(S)'s son-in-law and eminent cardiologist Dr C N Manjunath . Patriarch and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda.Interestingly, Manjunath is the state chief of JD(S) but is contesting the elections on a BJ ticket, as per the agreement between the alliance partners.
Shivakumar and Kumaraswamy represent Kanakapura and Channapatna assembly constituencies respectively, both of which are part of Bangalore Rural. Thus this high profile constituency has emerged as the most prestigious constituency in the state in the upcoming elections.
Bengaluru Rural is the only constituency in Karnataka where the Congress won in the 2019 general elections. Political analysts say it is important for Shivakumar to repeat the victory on home turf in 2024 to boost his chief ministerial chances.Both the Shivakumar and Gowda families are arch political rivals and have been fighting each other for political dominance in the region. Gowda won the Kanakapura Lok Sabha seat by defeating Shivakumar in the 2002 by-election, but lost it in 2004. His son Kumaraswamy won the seat in 1996, but lost in 1998 and 1999. He later won this seat after becoming Bengaluru Rural. In 2009.Suresh has been representing Bengaluru Rural since 2013. He defeated Kumaraswamy's wife Anita in the 2013 by-election.
The upcoming contest is also being seen as a battle between "a local and an outsider", as the Manjunath and Gowda families are originally from Hassa district, as well as a battle between two contrasting personalities. Manjunath, known for his mild manners and humility, headed the state-owned Senior Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research for 17 years before retiring in January this year.
He is a political greenhorn, being seen as an "underdog" challenging the established political power of the D brothers.Suresh, a three-time MP, is considered the political backbone and chief strategist of his brother Shivkumar due to his strong grassroots network in the area. According to local Congress leaders, the party is confident of his victory because of a large majority of Dalit and OBC votes. The votes of the minority community are uniting in its favour. "Now the fight will be over who will get the lion's share of Vokkaliga votes," said a leader.
"Voters, especially women, are supporting us because of our guarantee schemes. I am asking for 'coolie' (wage) for my work, I have raised my voice for Karnataka," Suresh said.Coming from Hassan, people are asking for votes here. “I am from here, people will decide.”
With Suresh's influence and his brother Shivakumar being the Vokkaliga face of the Congress as Deputy Chief Minister, he may look strong on paper, but the BJP-JD(S) alliance and Dr Manjunath's candidature pose a big challenge for him. Done. The local BJP leader said. Manjunath has a lot of goodwill among the people and many people do not see him as an outsider. The main reason for this, he said, is that many families have been treated at Jaydev, which he not only transformed into a premier cardiac institute but also impacted the lives of countless patients, especially the poor.
The leader said he is also counting on the Modi wave, the goodwill of Gowda and Kumaraswamy among the voters.Manjunath said, "BJP-JD(S) are working together, we are getting positive response, I am confident of victory. People want change, they will respond to the criticism against me." While efforts are being made to project Suresh as the future health minister, the BJP is also playing up Suresh's "separate nation" comment for the southern states to target him during the campaign. Congress, on its part, is targeting Gowda and his son to field his son-in-law from BJP.
Of the eight assembly constituencies under Bengaluru Rural, five are held by Congress, two by BJP and one by JD(S).
Political observers say the three assembly constituencies held by the BJP and JD(S) account for more than 50 per cent of the total voters in Bengaluru Rural, two of them in Bengaluru city limits and consolidation of their votes will pose a problem for the Congress. Can erect.However, pointing out that Suresh was the only Congress MP to win in 2019 despite the "Modi wave", he said the "DK brothers" will do everything to win the seat, as they know that any disturbance here will be exploited by Shivakumar. can be done. 'Political critics want to stop him from becoming the Chief Minister.'
This time there is a fight because BJP-JD(S) have fielded Dr Manjunath. Mallur, a farmer from Dodda in Channapatna, said, “Suresh is a local boy, he is hardworking and approachable. The doctor is not from here, Will he be able to reach? A voter from Magdi said, “Suresh is said to be a good worker, the work is still pending. Our vote is for Doctor, Modi, development and not for Congress because it is divide and rule. Do it, its stance is anti-Hindu."
