On May 7th, Karnataka will once again witness a showdown between the Congress and BJP as the remaining 14 Lok Sabha seats gear up for elections. The stage is set for a head-to-head battle between the two major parties, with the JD(S) throwing its weight behind the BJP in these northern districts. With 28 constituencies in total, Karnataka saw the first phase of polling in the southern and coastal districts on April 26.
A total of 227 candidates, including 21 women, are vying for victory in the second phase. Over 2.59 crore voters will have their say across 28,269 polling stations from 7 am to 6 pm. The battlegrounds for Tuesday's elections include Chikkodi, Belgaum, Bagalkot, Bijapur, Gulbarga, Raichur, Bidar, Koppal, Bellary, Haveri, Dharwad, Uttara Kannada, Davangere, and Shimoga.
In the previous 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP swept all 14 seats, defeating the Congress and JD(S) alliance. Buoyed by its success in last year's Assembly elections, the Congress is determined to mount a formidable challenge this time around. Karnataka holds significant strategic importance for the BJP in southern India, being the only state where it has previously held power.
Security measures have been beefed up for Tuesday's polling, with around 1.45 lakh polling officials deployed across the 14 constituencies. Additionally, a substantial force of civil police personnel, Central Paramilitary forces, and armed police from other states will be on duty. Micro-observers and webcasting will ensure transparency and accountability at the 17,000 polling stations.
With 30 candidates, Davangere boasts the highest number of contenders, while Raichur has the least with only eight. The Congress' performance in this phase, particularly in Lingayat-dominated districts, holds significant sway, as it aims to regain lost ground and retain support among this crucial demographic.
The election is also a litmus test for key political figures, including Congress state unit chief D K Shivakumar and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. For the BJP, state president B Y Vijayendra shoulders the responsibility of maintaining the party's stronghold, particularly among the traditional Lingayat vote base.
The Congress is banking on the success of its populist schemes, while the BJP is leveraging the charisma of Prime Minister Modi to the fullest. As Karnataka braces for another electoral showdown, the stakes are high for all parties involved.
