Sagar Khandre Debuts Against Two-Time BJP MP Bhagwanth Khuba In Bidar

Congress has nominated 26-year-old political debutant Sagar Khandre against an experienced Bhagwanth Khuba the sitting BJP MP from the Bidar constituency. Sagar Khandre is the youngest candidate in the state to run for the 18^th Lok Sabha elections. Khuba, a two-time MP who currently holds the position of Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers, has a political career that is more than Khandre’s age. The elections are set to be held on May 7 in Bidar.

Despite Khuba’s political experience factors such as internal quarrels in the BJP in the assembly, Maratha’s discontent with the BJP and Congress, and people’s discontent against his work are the factors that may work in the favour of the debuting Khandre. The challenge for the BJP is to ensure the preservation of the vote bank of the Lingayat community.

Notably, Eshwar Khandre, father of Sagar Khandre faced defeat in 2019 against the BJP candidate who secured 52.41 percent votes. Sagar’s grandfather Bheemanna Khandre is also a veteran Congress leader. The young politician is an LLB graduate who came into the limelight for his good work during the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, he holds position of the Secretary of Shanthivardhaka Education Institute. The young politician is using the technology to hear the people of his constituency. He has a profile on the Shuru App which connects him with the people of his city.

Recently, Sagar Khandre was seen interacting with people and the video was shared by BJP Karnataka targeting him via X for his not-so-fluent Kannada by asking Congress whether “is your child candidate standing for election in Pakistan or India?”.

The constituency was dominated by the INC from 1952 to 1989, and from 1991 to 2004 BJP was elected to the lower house from Bidar. Congress won the 2004 by-election and 2009 parliamentary election from Bidar again.

The Bidar seat comprises 8 assembly segments including Chincholi, Aland, Basavakalyan, Humnabad, Bidar South, Bidar, Bhalki, and Aurad. Out of the total 8, 5 assembly seats were held by the BJP candidate while 3 were by Congress in the 2023 assembly elections.

Bidar is a general category parliament seat with a literacy rate of 59.8 percent. The SC, ST, and Muslim populations here are 23.95%, 10.98%, and 19.76% respectively.

Bidar is one of the most backward districts in the state and parties are targeting the economically backward voters in the upcoming election here.