If distrust and bitterness between Janata Dal (Secular) and Congress workers were overt in the Cauvery basin districts, their complex chemistry in north Karnataka could have a significant impact on the prospects of the alliance in this BJP stronghold.
The JD(S) remains a marginal player in the 14 constituencies — 11 of which are held by the BJP — which will go to the polls on Tuesday. However, the transfer of its votes will be critical in Raichur and Koppal, where teething problems remain, while the ability of the coalition’s workers to work together could break into the BJP fortresses in Shivamogga and Davangere.
Smooth transition
In Shivamogga, the Congress and the JD(S) have galvanised to work together against the might of the BJP, and specifically the former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa. Here, vote transfer is not a problem, as was seen in the 2018 bypoll where Madhu Bangarappa, JD(S) candidate, lost by barely 52,000 votes — a drastic reduction of margin from more than 3.6 lakh when Mr. Yeddyurappa won in 2014.
H.S. Sundaresh, president of the Shivamogga District Congress Committee, says emphatically that Congress and JD(S) cadres were campaigning with great camaraderie. The presence of Congress strategist D.K. Shivakumar has also helped in ironing out differences in Tirthahalli and Bhadravati. “We are hopeful of seamless transfer of Congress votes to the JD(S) candidate,” he said.
Similarly, JD(S) leaders are confident in Davangere. “Everyone is working together for the Congress candidate as we are sick of the BJP’s local and national governance. The JD(S) has 1.5 lakh votes here, and this time, we will ensure all of it comes to the Congress,” says H.S. Shivashankar, a JD(S) leader and former Harihar MLA.
On the last day of the campaign, JD(S) workers in Bagalkot were visible in hordes during the former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s rally. Campaign material for the Congress candidate features prominently JD(S) leaders’ photos — giving the message that they are equally important in the electoral process.
Teething problems
However, in other constituencies, teething problems remain. The coalition partners are aware of it and multiple rallies featuring JD(S) top brass and Congress State and national leaders have attempted to present a united face.
In Raichur, where Congress MP B.V. Naik is seeking re-election, JD(S) workers have so far stayed away from active campaigning. JD(S) polled nearly 2 lakh votes in the Assembly elections, and has a lone MLA in Manvi segment. Ensuring vote transfer is critical for the Congress to retain the constituency which it had won by just 1,499 votes in 2014.
“We are embarrassed to go around asking votes for our principal opponent, the Congress. Their leaders have complained about our disinterest, and now JD(S) leaders have issued strict directions,” said a senior JD(S) functionary in Raichur. While emotions of saving the coalition government may have come to play in south Karnataka, here, even JD(S) workers feel slighted by the narratives of a Hassan-Mandya-centric State government.
“The JD(S) has come to power after 12 years, but seems to be concentrating only on south Karnataka. We feel like being alienated,” said the functionary.
In Vijayapura, the lone seat given to the JD(S) in north Karnataka, local Congress leaders have expressed displeasure over the seat-sharing arrangement. JD(S)’s candidate Sunita Chavan is the wife of Nagthan legislator Devanand Chavan, a Lambani leader. “Being a political novice, she has been dismissed as a light-weight compared to the former Union Minister Ramesh Jigjinagi (BJP). Congress leaders have been unhappy about it. They are participating in campaigns without enthusiasm,” an election observer said.
For the JD(S), a successful transfer of votes could show that it remains politically significant in the region where it has seen a decline in two decades. “Riding on the language movement and farmers’ movement, the Janata Party had developed a base here among Lingayats and backward classes. It had become an alternative against the then Chief Minister Gundu Rao. Now JD(S)’s influence is confined to a few pockets,” said veteran journalist Vittappa Gorantli of Koppal.
(Inputs from Sharath S. Srivatsa in Raichur and Koppal, Mohit M. Rao in Davangere, Veerendra P.M. in Shivamogga, and Feroz Rozindar in Vijayapura)