It’s old loyalties vs. old rivalries for Munirathna in R.R. Nagar bypoll
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Dissidence inside BJP and doable Vokkaliga consolidation are ache factors for Munirathna right here
From what was anticipated to be a walkover for Munirathna, the R.R. Nagar byelection has now turned out to be a scorching area for the BJP candidate, who has represented it twice as a Congress chief.
Continued dissidence throughout the BJP towards his candidature and an try and consolidate Vokkaliga votes towards him by the Congress are the important thing challenges Mr. Munirathna faces, based on sources near him. The JD(S), which has a substantial base in the constituency, has additionally been working a high-pitched marketing campaign, turning into an “X factor” in the bypoll.
Old reminiscences
Tulasi Muniraju Gowda, a two-time BJP candidate towards Mr. Munirathna, has been preventing a pitched battle towards him, even difficult his 2018 election victory over malpractice. From the RSS secure, he lobbied exhausting to stop Mr. Munirathna’s entry into the BJP and later towards giving him the get together ticket, however failed. Mr. Gowda has not been lively in the marketing campaign, mentioned sources. Mr. Munirathna additionally had a bitter feud with native councillors — three girls from three events — when he was a Congress MLA. Multiple BJP councillors are additionally not actively campaigning for him.
“The party’s worker base has not forgotten those days,” mentioned a former BJP councillor, although Mr. Munirathna himself has been insisting that the old variations have been buried. He is banking on Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa’s marketing campaign in BJP strongholds to instantly enchantment to the get together’s loyal vote base, bypassing the native leaders. He has additionally ushered in star energy, with actor-turned-politician Khushboo campaigning for him and actor Darshan anticipated to hitch as nicely.
Meanwhile, working his marketing campaign aggressively are three former Congress councillors, who shifted to the BJP with him. One of them, G.K. Venkatesh, was accused of attempting to disrupt Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah’s rally, and was arrested and later launched on bail.
Strong base in slums
However, what Mr. Munirathna is banking on is his base in the constituency, particularly in the slum pockets, which matches past get together or caste loyalties. “In these pockets, he got insurmountable leads in the previous two elections. He has tremendous goodwill there. For instance, he called most of the households in these areas personally during the recent lockdown and supplied them ration for three months,” a Congress chief conceded.
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president D.K. Shivakumar and his brother and native MP D.K. Suresh, spearheading the Congress marketing campaign, are trying a Vokkaliga vote consolidation, provided that Mr. Munirathna has had run-ins with Vokkaligas in the constituency. As against this, the Congress candidate and new entrant H. Kusuma, a Vokkaliga, comes with no baggage and is seen as polished and educated.
However, BJP strategists are hopeful that the Congress’ “overt attempt at Vokkaliga consolidation” will push different communities, particularly the OBCs, to the BJP. However, they worry that the try and disrupt a rally of Mr. Siddaramaiah, a distinguished OBC chief, could trigger some harm.
JD(S) revs up marketing campaign
The Congress’ try at Vokkaliga consolidation has upset the JD(S), with former H.D. Kumaraswamy cautious of Mr. Shivakumar’s try and mission himself as the large chief of the group, get together sources mentioned. The JD(S), that originally didn’t appear critical in the constituency, has picked up and is working a pitched marketing campaign with Mr. Kumaraswamy himself in the lead and making a centered assault on the Congress. The JD(S) has a substantial base in the constituency, successful 40,000 to 60,000 votes since 2008. While BJP and Congress leaders declare the election is quick turning right into a two-horse race, the JD(S) is eager to make its presence felt, and this would possibly harm the Congress.
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