The Aryavarth Express
Agency(Karnataka): In the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which had previously secured victories in all five constituencies of the Kalyana Karnataka region during the 2019 elections, is encountering potential challenges. This area, historically known as the Hyderabad Karnataka region, encompasses seven districts and includes the constituencies of Bidar, Gulbarga, Raichur, Bellary, and Koppal. The resurgence of the Congress in the 2023 assembly elections suggests a tougher competition ahead for the BJP.
The BJP has nominated Umesh Jadhav to contest from Gulbarga (Kalaburagi) and Bhagwant Khuba, alongside new candidates like former Karnataka minister B Sriramulu for Bellary and Dr. Basavaraj Kyavator for Koppal. However, the party’s choice for Raichur remains undisclosed. Conversely, the Congress is poised to announce its candidates for these seats on March 20, which could significantly impact the electoral dynamics.
Reflecting on past assembly elections offers insight into the shifting political landscape. In the 2018 assembly elections, the BJP captured 17 seats, whereas the Congress won 19, and the JD(S) secured four victories in the region. A notable shift occurred in the 2023 assembly elections, where the Congress significantly bolstered its presence by winning 26 seats, reducing the BJP’s tally to 10. The JD(S)’s performance also dwindled to two seats, alongside two victories by other candidates.
The Congress demonstrated remarkable strength in various districts during the 2023 assembly polls, notably in Ballari, Raichur, Yadgir, Vijayanagara, and Koppal, whereas Bidar showed a preference for the BJP. Particularly in Kalaburagi, the Congress, led by its national president Mallikarjun Kharge, secured a substantial victory.
The landscape of Kalyana Karnataka politics had previously favored the BJP, especially following the 2019 Lok Sabha elections where the party’s performance was buoyed by the Modi wave, capturing 25 of 28 seats. This victory played a critical role in the dissolution of the then Congress-JD(S) coalition government, propelling the BJP to power in Karnataka for approximately four years.
However, the BJP’s popularity has waned since 2023, as evidenced by its performance in the assembly elections. This decline is particularly pronounced in the Kalyana Karnataka region, raising questions about the party’s ability to regain its former stronghold in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The political landscape in this historically significant region is evolving, with the Congress gaining momentum and presenting a formidable challenge to the BJP’s dominance.