Telugus can tip the scales in 20 seats in poll-bound Karnataka

| Koride Mahesh | TNN | Mar 31, 2023, 20:59 IST

About 20% of the assembly constituencies in poll-bound Karnataka ... Read More

HYDERABAD: About 20% of the assembly constituencies in poll-bound Karnataka have a substantial presence of Telugus who, according to Telugu associations, will decide the fate of the candidates.

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With the elections set to be held on May 10, all eyes are on BRS, TDP and YSR Congress which will be roped in by their friendly allies in the neighbouring state to woo Telugu people in various constituencies. For all the 224 constituencies, polling will be held on May 10.

According to the Telugu associations in Karnataka and Bengaluru, nearly one crore population of the total seven crore population in Karnataka are Telugus, who include those who have settled down in the state several decades ago and those who came to Karnataka for employment or for doing business or setting up real estate ventures.

Bengaluru alone is home to around 25 lakh Telugus, the associations claimed. Because of their large presence, Telugu is the third largely spoken language in the state after Kannada and Urdu.

"While there are 40 to 50 assembly constituencies that have Telugus' presence, in about 10 seats such as Mahadevpura in Bengaluru, Telugu people will decide the fortunes of the candidates," Sundeep Kumar Makthala, president of the Kannada Rashtra Telangana Association, told TOI on Thursday.

In constituencies like Hebbal, Yelahanka, Devanahalli and Ballari on AP route, around 20 seats in Hyderabad-Karnataka region such as Bidar, Kalaburagi, Raichur, Yadgir, Basavakalyan and districts like Kolar, Tumakuru, Chitradurga and Chikkaballapur, Telugus have a strong presence.

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"Since Telugus are the deciding factor, if there is a narrow margin in the elections, parties even make promises for welfare of the Telugu natives. For instance, in the 2018 elections, Janata Dal (Secular) had promised to allot land for Telangana Bhavan in Bengaluru city," Sundeep Kumar recalled.

Karnataka assembly election 2023: Voting, result dates and all you need to know

Karnataka will go to polls on May 10 and the counting will be on May 13, Election Commission announced on Wednesday

Out of the over 5.21 crore electors in Karnataka, 5.55 lakh are PwD electors

The term for the Karnataka assembly will end on May 24

The election led to a hung assembly, with the BJP emerging as the single largest party, with 104 seats. Kumarasamy returned as CM with Congress' help. 14 months later BJP's BS Yediyurappa was appointed CM after defection of opposition MLAs.

Ruling BJP-led by chief minister Basavaraj Bommai will be in a triangular fight in the state with Congress and JD(S)

BJP has not released its list of candidates but CM Bommai is confident of returning as chief minister.

Poll experts have predicted a close contest between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress and JD(S). BJP will be betting on PM's charisma to tide over the battle.

PM Modi has so far visited the poll-bound Karnataka on seven occasions inaugurating various projects.

The Congress party recentally came out with its first list of 124 candidates for the upcoming assembly elections in Karnataka.

"Other parties had given donations to cultural programmes and events organised by Telugu associations during the election year," he added.

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Top Comment

Ravi Swamy

597 days ago

Why MIM, the party of Asaduddin Owaisi, contesting in Karnataka assembly polls ? Esp in Bidar, Humnabad, Gulbarga, Raichur,which are parts of the erstwhile Nizam dominion..

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