The Aryavarth Express
Agency(Karnataka): The Congress Party’s Central Election Committee has finalized the candidature for 16 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka, prominently featuring the progeny of five current state Cabinet ministers. This decision underscores a significant reliance on political dynasties within the party’s strategy for the forthcoming parliamentary elections.
In a notable move to consolidate its electoral base, the Congress has slated Sowmya Reddy, daughter of Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy, for Bangalore South, and Priyanka Jarkiholi, daughter of Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi, for Chikkodi. Further extending this pattern, the party has nominated Mrinal, son of Women & Child Development Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar, for Belgaum; Samyukta, daughter of Agricultural Marketing Minister Shivanand Patil, for Bagalkot; and Sagar Khandre, son of Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre, for Bidar.
The selection process, led by Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge, has yet to determine candidates for five more constituencies—Kolar, Chitradurga, Chikkaballapur, Chamarajanagar, and Bellary—amidst vigorous ticket lobbying from numerous contenders.
Adding to the list, Radhakrishna Doddamani, Kharge’s son-in-law, has been designated for Gulbarga, whereas Prabha Mallikarjun, daughter-in-law to senior MLA Shamanur Shivashankarappa, is set to contest from Davangere. Notably, her husband SS Mallikarjun currently holds the mines & geology minister portfolio.
The list also includes former IIM Bangalore professor M.V. Rajeev Gowda for Bangalore North and Mansoor Ali Khan, son of former Rajya Sabha deputy chairperson K Rahman Khan, for Bangalore Central, illustrating the party’s blend of political lineage with professional expertise.
The Congress’s reliance on political families has stirred discussions on the dynamics of electoral politics in Karnataka, reflecting a broader trend of dynastic representation in Indian politics. As the party gears up for the elections, the inclusion of ministers’ children in its candidate list signals a strategic maneuver to leverage their familial connections and political legacies, amidst the challenge of addressing the diverse aspirations of Karnataka’s electorate.
