Bengaluru, June 18: The upcoming elections for seven seats in the Karnataka Assembly have transformed into a high-stakes political battle. This contest has become a matter of prestige for both the ruling Congress and the BJP-JD(S) alliance.
Initially perceived as a simple numbers game, the competition has escalated into a fierce showdown between Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Union Heavy Industries and Steel Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy. Both leaders are determined to secure victories for their respective candidates.
Eight candidates are vying for the seven available seats. While four Congress candidates and two BJP candidates are expected to win comfortably, the race for the seventh and final seat has become highly competitive.
The primary contest is between Congress’s fifth candidate, Vinay Karthik, and NDA’s K.K. Govindaraju, supported by the JD(S)-BJP alliance. The results are likely to hinge on additional votes and the possibility of cross-voting.
In light of cross-voting concerns, both factions have taken extraordinary measures to keep their legislators united. The Congress has relocated all its legislators to a resort in Bidadi, where training sessions and mock voting exercises are being conducted to ensure that every vote is cast correctly.
Sources indicate that Chief Minister Shivakumar is confident that the party will win all five seats, while also warning legislators about attempts by the JD(S) to reach out to them.
The JD(S) has instructed its legislators to report to the party office in Bengaluru before being taken to a resort in Devanahalli. The party has issued a whip to ensure that legislators are directly transported to the Vidhana Soudha on voting day.
The BJP has also strengthened its unity. A meeting of BJP legislators was held at a private hotel in Bengaluru, led by Opposition Leader R. Ashok, Opposition Leader in the Legislative Council Chalawadi Narayanaswamy, and BJP State President B.Y. Vijayendra.
Leave a Comment