BNN Summary
The election campaign in Karnataka reached a fever pitch for the 14 Lok Sabha seats that went to the polls on April 26. Star campaigners from both the Congress and the BJP, along with its ally JD(S), crisscrossed the state, appealing to over 2.88 crore eligible voters. Key issues like welfare schemes, constitutional values, and allegations of appeasement politics dominated the discourse, setting the stage for a high-stakes electoral battle.
In-Depth Analysis
The electoral landscape of Karnataka witnessed an intense campaign preceding the second phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where 14 crucial parliamentary constituencies went to the polls on April 26. This phase was significant as it encompassed primarily south Karnataka, featuring a direct contest between the ruling Indian National Congress (INC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in alliance with the Janata Dal (Secular) (JD(S)). The state, with a total of 28 Lok Sabha seats, divided its polling into two phases, with the remaining 14 seats in north Karnataka scheduled for May 7.
Campaign activities were robust, with prominent leaders from both national parties and the regional JD(S) holding numerous rallies and public addresses. Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge was a key campaigner, particularly active in constituencies surrounding Bengaluru. Addressing a rally in Channapatna within the Bangalore Rural Lok Sabha Constituency, Kharge underscored that the Congress manifesto aimed for the welfare of all communities, not just appeasement. He urged voters to support Congress to 'save the constitution and our Democracy'.
On the other side, the BJP and JD(S) coalition deployed its own formidable array of star campaigners. Tamil Nadu BJP President K. Annamalai campaigned vigorously for BJP candidate Tejasvi Surya in the Bangalore South Constituency. Annamalai criticized both the Congress in Karnataka and the DMK in Tamil Nadu, labeling them 'two faces of the same coin' engaged in appeasement politics and aligning with 'anti-social elements'. He called on voters to elect legislators who could deliver on 'Modi's guarantees'. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, though holding fewer rallies compared to 2019, along with other senior BJP leaders, focused on leveraging the 'Modi factor' and the achievements of the central government. Former Prime Minister and JD(S) President H.D. Deve Gowda expressed confidence that the BJP-JD(S) alliance would secure all 14 seats in the state.
The 14 constituencies that went to polls on April 26 included Udupi-Chikmagalur, Dakshina Kannada, Chitradurga, Tumkur, Mysore, Chamarajanagar, Bangalore Rural, Bangalore North, Bangalore Central, Bangalore South, Chikkballapur, Hassan, Mandya, and Kolar. Several high-profile candidates were in the fray, drawing considerable attention. These included JD(S) state president H.D. Kumaraswamy from Mandya, cardiologist Dr. C.N. Manjunath (BJP) from Bangalore Rural, Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar (BJP) from Mysore, and D.K. Suresh (Congress), brother of Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, contesting from Bangalore Rural. Other notable contests included Prajwal Revanna (JD(S)) against Shreyas Patel Gowda (Congress) in Hassan, and Tejasvi Surya (BJP) seeking re-election from Bangalore South.
Campaign narratives diverged sharply. The Congress heavily relied on its five populist 'guarantee schemes' implemented in the state, such as free bus travel for women and 200 units of free electricity. These welfare measures, which reportedly benefited hundreds of thousands of people, were central to their appeal, particularly in a state where unemployment and poverty were significant concerns according to surveys. Conversely, the BJP and JD(S) sought to counter this by highlighting national security and development under Prime Minister Modi, while also criticizing the Congress's schemes as fiscally imprudent. The issue of corruption, which had been a significant factor in the Congress's victory in the 2023 Assembly elections, also continued to feature in the political discourse.
The BJP-JD(S) alliance, formed for the first time in Lok Sabha polls, was a crucial strategic move aimed at consolidating votes and challenging the Congress's strong performance in the previous state elections. This alliance was particularly important for the transfer of votes in key seats where the parties traditionally held sway. In a related development, the BJP took disciplinary action, suspending senior leader K.S. Eshwarappa, who was contesting as a rebel independent candidate from the Shivamogga Lok Sabha seat, for 'anti-party activities'.
Over 2.88 crore voters were eligible to cast their ballots across 30,602 polling stations on April 26. Election officials had made elaborate arrangements to ensure a smooth polling process, including deploying 140,000 personnel, 5,000 micro-observers, 50,000 civil police personnel, and 65 companies of Central Parliamentary Force and State Armed Police. Special booths were also set up to encourage participation, with 1,120 dedicated to women, 224 for disabled persons, and 224 for youth, along with theme-based booths reflecting regional cultural heritage. The voter turnout for the 14 seats on April 26 was recorded at 64.57% till 7 PM, with the final turnout for this phase reaching 69.5%. This strong turnout, despite prevailing heatwave conditions in some parts, reflected the high engagement of the electorate in this pivotal election.
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