After becoming one of the national vice-presidents of the BJP, lingayat strongman BS Yeddyurappa is facing a tough battle taking on the united Congress in the August 21 bypolls for Karnataka Assembly at Shikaripura, his hometown where his son BY Raghavendra is contesting. For Yeddyurappa, who is now part of Amit Shah’s team many feel the victory here would consolidate his position ever before.
Meanwhile, in entirety the three by-elections for the Karnataka Assembly on August 21 at Bellary Rural, Shikaripura and Chikkodi-Sadalaga, have become crucial for the Congress and its Chief Minister Siddaramaiah who is facing internal dissent over his way of functioning. For him (Siddaramaiah) many senior Congress leaders feel it is going to be a litmus test and the Congress need to fight the elections united.
The State BJP under the new dispensation of Amit Shah is gearing up to wrest two out three Assembly seats in Bellary and Shikaripura and the Congress is expected to do well in Chikkodi. The BJP is raking up land de notification, KPSC, recent incidents of rapes and attacks on women and children and other scams of the ruling party and Siddaramaiah as the election issue to fight the Congress.
But looking at the changing political equations where the cash-strapped JD(S) (JD-S supremo Deve Gowda has decided not to contest the bypolls saying the party does not have money to fight the major parties) has decided to support the Congress candidate at Shikaripura making tough for BY Raghavendra who is fighting this crucial battle under the shadow of his father.
But for Siddaramaiah who is playing his backward class politics to the hilt and 73-year-old Yeddyurappa who is looking ahead, the Shikaripura by polls has become pride and prestige for the two stalwarts of Karnataka politics.
For Yeddyurappa, the victory of his son Raghavendra is essential to retain his hold in the taluk. Siddaramaiah would look to strengthen his position in the party if Congress candidate HS Shantaveerappa Gouda wrests the seat from the BJP.
Siddaramaiah, KPCC president G Parameshwara and a few Ministers campaigned extensively in various parts of the constituency. A team of Ministers led by HC Mahadevappa, a close associate of the Chief Minister, is camping in Shikaripur for the past two weeks. The local support of the JD(S) to the Congress has strengthened the ruling party. In the last Assembly polls in 2013, Yeddyurappa had secured 69,126 votes as KJP candidate, Shantaveerappa Gouda of Congress, who is in the fray this time also, had managed to get 44,702 votes and the then JD(S) candidate HT Baligar had obtained 15,004 votes.
Many feel it was difficult to defeat Yeddyurappa and his son at his home turf as he commends respect and consolidation of voters from all communities.