Though Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah chose to contest from two seats in the upcoming Karnataka Assembly poll to ensure his election, the ruling Congress rivals – the BJP and the JD(S) – are leaving no stone unturned to give him some trying moments.
Both the BJP and the JD(S) have generally fielded strong candidates on the two seats where Siddaramaiah is contesting from. The strategy of the two opposition parties is making him feel insecure.
The BJP and the JD(S) hope to tie Siddaramaiah, who is Congress’ star campaigner, as much as possible to his two seats. This would give the Karnataka chief minister less time to campaign for other Congress candidates, helping both the BJP and the JD(S).
Siddaramaiah has filed nominations from Badami and Chamundeshwari.
In a high public rally yesterday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi raked up Siddaramaiahs decision to contest on two seats. Calling it a “2 1 formula”, the PM alleged that the Karnataka CM was afraid of defeat and, therefore, he was changing seats and fighting on two seats.
While the BJP has fielded its heavyweight leader and Bellary Lok Sabha member B Sreeramulu in Badami, the JD(S) has chosen Hanamanth Mavinmarad to give a tough fight to the Karnataka CM. The JD(S) hopes to consolidate the Lingayat votes in Badami through Mavinmarad.
The contest in Chamundeshwari is no less interesting than in Badami.
Siddaramaiah chose Chamundeshwari perhaps because it has a high percentage of Kurubas, an OBC caste. The Karnataka CM is also a Kurubu.
But it also has a considerable population of Vokkaligas who constitute the main voter base of the JD(S).
Hence, the JD(S) has pitted sitting MLA and local heavyweight GT Deve Gowda, a Vokkaliga, against Siddaramaiah.
The BJP, on the other hand, has fielded a comparatively weaker candidate Gopal Rao. This is Rao’s first Assembly election. It has given an impression that the BJP is indirectly supporting the JD(S) in Chamundeshwari in order to give Siddaramaiah a run for his money.
The BJP may not hope to defeat Siddaramaiah in either Badami or Chamundeshwari but it certainly is trying to confine the Karnataka CM to his two seats.
The JD(S) has put strong candidates from both the constituencies.
JD(S) candidate Mavinmarad feels that Siddaramaiah cannot take JD(S) for granted either in Chamundeshwari or Badami.
Siddaramaiah must be finding himself in a non-enviable position. If he devotes more time to his constituencies, the other Congress seats may suffer. If he ignores his seats, he may risk losing both.
Perhaps contesting on two seats has become more problematic for Siddaramaiah than providing any solution. It may have been easier to manage had he contested on just one seat.
