Sira bypoll: A dusty turf battle in the dryland
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Mini-battle over Vokkaliga management is unfolding right here between Deve Gowda and D.K. Shivakumar
The dry and dusty area of Sira in Tumakuru has been witnessing an fascinating political battle as the conventional rivals in the Vokkaliga heartland — the Congress and the JD(S) — are sweating it out at the same time as the BJP is attempting to wrest the seat.
A mini-battle over the Vokkaliga management is unfolding right here between JD(S) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president D.K. Shivakumar. Meanwhile, recent from victory at K.R. Pete in Mandya, the BJP, which has by no means gained in Sira, is trying to repeat its feat there. The byelection right here was necessitated by the loss of life of JD(S) legislator B. Sathyanarayana.
Initial setback
The JD(S) suffered preliminary setbacks with lots of its native leaders deserting it as the high leaders dithered on candidate choice. The occasion lastly introduced ticket for Ammajamma, the spouse of the late legislator who reluctantly agreed to contest. On the different hand, the Congress introduced T.B. Jayachandra as its candidate early on whereas the BJP candidate, Rajesh Gowda, son of former MP for Chitradurga Moodalgiriyappa, began election work even earlier than the occasion introduced his candidature.
While the JD(S) is banking on sympathy votes for Ammajamma, particularly from girls, additionally it is hoping that the presence of Mr. Deve Gowda will swing the group votes. People may very well be notably sympathetic to Mr. Gowda, who had a moderately humiliating defeat in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls in Tumakuru, occasion sources mentioned.
On the different hand, the Congress is projecting the work of Mr. Jayachandra, particularly these associated to water, as an necessary subject in this water-starved constituency. The faction-ridden Tumakuru Congress has united behind the former Minister, a lot to his aid.
The BJP, which has deployed a big battalion of leaders, together with B.Y. Vijayendra, son of Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, has been speaking of the absence of improvement over a long time and is looking for an opportunity for its candidate. It appears to be a frightening activity for the saffron occasion, which obtained nearly 2% and 9.5% of the whole votes polled in 2013 and 2018, respectively. However, the K.R. Pete expertise exhibits that the BJP elevated its vote share from simply 5.6% in the 2018 elections to 39.41% in the 2019 bypolls.
In the 2008 and 2013 Assembly elections in Sira, the Congress recorded 45% and 46% of the vote share, respectively; it dropped to 36% in 2018. The JD(S) had a 41% vote share in 2018, up from about 35% in 2013. “The BJP may not be able to get such a huge swing in Sira. Mr. Deve Gowda’s active role in this election could stem those hopes. The BJP, however, is likely to improve in vote share this election,” a neighborhood chief mentioned.
Sources in the Congress mentioned that not like the JD(S) and BJP, they haven’t been in a position to do as a lot micro-level campaigning throughout 4 hoblis, which might develop into a problem. “The personal touch always works well,” a Congress supply mentioned.
Caste points
In 2018, 84.31% of the voters turned up at the polling stations. Under the gloom of the pandemic, events are conserving fingers crossed about voter turnout. “Development works and water are important issues. However, the caste matrix and emotional appeals could make a big difference,” a pacesetter mentioned. All three candidates from the main events in the fray are Kunchitiga Vokkaligas.
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