Kumaraswamy and Star Chandru set for epic showdown in Mandya, Karnataka

Bengaluru, March 29 (IANS) The Mandya Parliamentary Constituency in south Karnataka is gearing up to be a battleground between former CM H.D. Kumaraswamy and Congress’ Venkataramane Gowda a.k.a. Star Chandru. The contest is crucial for both parties as they vie for the Vokkaliga heartland.

Mandya, a Vokkaliga stronghold, has traditionally been dominated by the Deve Gowda family and the JD(S). However, with Deputy CM Shivakumar’s influence, the Congress made inroads in the 2023 Assembly election.

Kumaraswamy, backed by BJP and PM Modi’s support, aims to reclaim the Vokkaliga vote bank. BJP and JD(S) are planning a grand show of strength in April during Kumaraswamy’s nomination filing to rally support from the community.

The Mandya Lok Sabha Constituency includes key Assembly seats like Malavalli, Maddur, Melukote, Mandya city, Srirangapatna, Nagamangala, Krishnarajapete, and Krishnarajasagar, making it a crucial battleground for the upcoming elections.

While the JD(S) won only one seat in the 2023 Assembly polls, Congress secured six seats and a candidate supported by Congress won the Melukote constituency. BJP has never won the Mandya seat, with JD(S) and Congress being the dominant forces in recent elections.

The BJP’s strong showing in the 2018 by-election, polling 2.44 lakh votes, raises hopes for the party in the upcoming polls. Congress faces challenges over water-sharing issues with Tamil Nadu, impacting farmers in the Mandya region.

Deputy CM Shivakumar aims to consolidate the Vokkaliga community’s support by securing a win in Mandya and maximizing Congress’ seats in south Karnataka. BJP and JD(S) are focused on securing a convincing victory in Mandya to assert their dominance in the region.

The BJP leadership is working to bridge differences with JD(S) workers while considering options to field sitting MP Sumalatha Ambareesh as their candidate in Mandya. Meanwhile, Congress stands firm on Star Chandru’s candidature, determined to win the crucial seat.

As the election in Mandya heats up, the contest between Kumaraswamy’s JD(S), Star Chandru’s Congress, and potential BJP candidates underlines the high stakes involved in this closely-watched battle for political supremacy in south Karnataka.