- Yeddyurappa to project son Vijayendra if party candidates win
- Litmus test for Shiva Kumar who became KPCC President recently
- JD(S) win crucial for Deve Gowda family
Bangalore: Upcoming by elections for two assembly seats in Karnataka on Nov 3 appear to be crucial for all the three main parties – BJP, Congress and JD(S) – for different reasons. In other words, one can say it is a litmus test for three senior leaders – Yeddyurappa, Shiva Kumar and Deve Gowda. All eyes are on two constituencies Sira and Raja Rajeswari Nagar (RR) as they decide the fate of senior politicians of Karnataka, Deve Gowda(87) and Yeduyarappa(79), who are almost looking for a retirement from active politics.
Sira, the critical seat for all
RR constituency by-poll is necessitated after sitting MLA M. Munirathna jumped into BJP from Congress. There is a clear edge for him even in the by-poll and BJP will win this seat according to the trends. But another constituency ‘Sira’ is becoming tough day by day for all 3 parties in the fray. It is pretty difficult to decide the outcome until boxes are opened on the counting day, 10 November. By-poll for SIRA is due to the sudden demise of JD(S) MLA B.Satyanarayana and the party which has strong hold in this region feels it can retain the seat. Old Mysuru and Tumkur regions are strong holds of the JD(S) but party Supremo Deve Gowda doesn’t want to take any chances. He has intensified the campaign along with his son, former CM, Kumarswamy. Main worry for the party is that the local leaders had jumped into either congress or BJP and win here is very crucial for Deve Gowda’s family to uplift the party’s morale.
It is a prestigious fight for Shiva Kumar
The Congress party has taken this by-poll as a do-or-die case and has been fighting hard. Party has nominated the same candidate, Jayachandra, who lost in previous election. This is the first election under the captainship of KPCC President Shiva Kumar, who has taken the reins recently. He is a strong Vokkaliga leader and knows very well that the defeat in Sira gives upper hand to the JD(S).He wants to win the hearts of Vokkaligas by winning this seat and announce himself as the community’s backbone.
It makes no difference to BJP
For BJP, winning or losing one seat doesn’t make much difference as they are well placed with majority in assembly. But Chief Minister Yeddyurappa has other plans. He wants to project his son, Vijayendra as a successor to him and for that he is making Vijayendra to lead the by-election campaign as poll strategist. He knows Sira is a strong hold for JD(S) but reposed faith in his son, who made party won in KR Pete, another strong hold of the JD(S). SIRA is a constituency which is always known for returning either the congress or the JD(S), but with entry of Vijayendra, it became a triangular fight. For Maski and Basvakalyan, other two constituencies whereby-polls are due, dates are yet to be announced by the E.C.
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