Karnataka will vote in two phases on April 26 and May 7.The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal (Secular) (JDS) recently got together to fight Karnataka’s 28 Lok Sabha seats in a mutually beneficial alliance. According to the deal agreed to, the BJP will contest 25 and the JDS three in the Vokkaliga belt, where the former’s influence has been historically subdued. The BJP also lost ground to the Congress here in the 2023 Assembly election.
Former Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai lauded the alliance, highlighting the amicable rapport between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and JDS founder and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda. However, the initial optimism has been swiftly overshadowed by on-ground discord, threatening the BJP’s electoral aspirations in the South.
The BJP has set itself an ambitious target of 370+ seats independently and 400+ with its National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners, including the JDS. Tensions surfaced in Tumakuru, where the BJP and JDS found themselves at odds. A joint rally, aimed at rallying support for their common candidate V Somanna, descended into chaos as party workers, erstwhile adversaries, engaged in physical scuffle on stage.
The confrontation escalated when JDS MLA MT Krishnappa directed scathing remarks at BJP’s Kondajji Vishwanath, holding him accountable for his defeat in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the challenge confronting the BJP and JDS alliance, especially in the aftermath of the Congress’ resounding victory in the 2023 Assembly elections.
Initially, the party announced a list of 20 candidates, with nine changes of candidates. In its seat pact with the Janata Dal (Secular) in Karnataka, the BJP gave Mandya, Hassan, and Kolar to JDS.
BJP vs BJP
Infighting has erupted within the ranks of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over its candidate for the Chikballapur constituency in southern Karnataka. The party’s decision to field K Sudhakar from here has not gone down well with Yelahanka MLA SR Vishwanath, whose constituency falls within the Chikballapur parliamentary constituency.
Vishwanath wants his son, Alok Vishwanath, to contest from Chikballapur. This discontent has escalated to the extent that Vishwanath’s supporters initiated a ‘Go Back Sudhakar’ campaign against their own party leader, brandishing BJP flags alongside posters and placards demanding Sudhakar’s withdrawal as a candidate.
Sudhakar, a seasoned politician with two terms as an MLA from the Chikballapur Assembly seat, acknowledged Vishwanath’s aspirations for his son but defended his own candidacy. He expressed willingness to engage with Vishwanath to address the concerns.
In the 2019 elections, the BJP secured a sweeping victory in the state, claiming 25 out of 28 seats, while the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) each secured one seat, with the remaining going to an independent candidate.
In the 2019 election the BJP swept the state, winning 25 of its 28 seats. The Congress and the JDS won one each, with the final seat going to an independent lawmaker.
Karnataka will vote in two phases on April 26 and May 7.