Karnataka elections: Hard-nosed rival, newbie threaten to spoil father, son’s victory party

The recently opened Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway has taken the sheen out of businesses in Ramanagara and Channapatna towns along the old highway, but not the wind out of electioneering that hit a crescendo lately.
Also See: Karnataka Election 2023 Live
With the leading light of JD(S), former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy, seeking re-election from Channapatna and his actor-son, Nikhil, from neighbouring Ramanagara, the opposition, especially BJP, is doing all they can to stymie their victories.

While the father is facing a tough challenge from BJP’s CP Yogeshwara, Congress’ HA Iqbal Hussain has been pitchforked as Nikhil’s main rival. This is because BJP has fielded a stronger candidate who will garner some votes, much to the disadvantage of JD(S).
In Karnataka’s toy city, Kumaraswamy and Yogeshwara have locked horns in another direct and equally poised battle. Yogeshwara may lack the lineage of Kumaraswamy, former PM HD Deve Gowda’s son, but he is as seasoned and popular as his rival is.

Keen on avenging his defeat in 2018, Yogeshwara has been preparing for this round for the past three years and doing his best to paint his rival as an outsider since the Deve Gowda family is based in Hassan district. Through his Swabhimani Sankalpa Yatre, Yogeshwara has reached out to every single household of the constituency to find out why he was defeated in 2018 even though he was credited with resolving drinking water problems and ensuring irrigation facilities by filling lakes.
“People are repenting for my defeat in 2018 and they have decided to set it right this time,” Yogeshwara says. “Moreover, Kumaraswamy has done nothing for the constituency despite being CM for a year.”
However, while people acknowledge his work, they are unhappy with his party-hopping and inaccessibility. Yogeshwara, a four-time MLA, was in Samajwadi Party and Congress before re-joining BJP ahead of 2018 elections. There was also talk that he may join Congress a few months ago.
On the other hand, Kumaraswamy is banking on his family’s clout among Vokkaligas, his personal charisma and the presence of sizeable number of Muslims. The expectation that he may become CM again in the event of a fractured verdict may sway people into rooting for him. The Congress has fielded its district president Gangadhar S and if he secureseven 10,000 votes then victory could be anybody’s.
“This time it is going to be a photo finish. Both are equally placed as of now,” said Ramu, a businessman.
While not new to electoral polls, Nikhil is contesting his maiden election to the assembly from neighbouring Ramanagara. He lost the Lok Sabha polls in 2019 and this time too faces a tough challenge. Not that Congress candidate Iqbal is strong enough to spoil Nikhil’s chances on his own. But the presence of Gautham Marlingegowda (BJP), son of a former MLC, in the fray may cause Nikhil trouble.
Gautham’s family is believed to have considerable clout in Harohalli and Cheeluru hoblis. He is also expected to consolidate Lingayat and Brahmin votes in his favour owing to the Modi factor.
“It may come down to how many votes Gautham polls. If he polls over 20,000 votes then Nikhil will be in trouble,” admitted a JD(S) functionary.
Congress also knows that its victory hinges on Gautham’s performance. “The party has been getting around 40,000 votes in every election. This time we are expecting 20-30% Vokkaligas votes for Iqbal owing to the DK Shivakumar factor. There are also a large number of Muslims and a sizeable number of Kuruba, SC and ST voters in the segment. If all these votes consolidate, victory for Congress is certain,”said Congress MLC S Ravi.
Realising this, Nikhil has been extensively campaigning in the constituency though it is a bastion of the Gowda family for over three decades. Efforts are being made to woo prominent leaders from Gautham’s camp and they have been partially successful too. “The situation is changing in favour of Nikhil and he will win for sure,” says Umesh, a key functionary of JD(S) in Ramanagara.
Nikhil too is confident. “The people of this constituency have an emotional connection with our family, and they will never let us down,” he said. “It is a relation that is beyond politics. I will win with a thumping majority; you will see on May 13 [counting day].”