The Aryavarth Express
Agency(Karnataka): In a decisive move within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, alongside his son and BJP president B Y Vijayendra, successfully championed the nomination of S Balaraj as the BJP candidate for the Chamarajanagar (SC reserved) constituency in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. This nomination marks a significant point in Balaraj’s political journey, which has seen several party affiliations and electoral contests.
Balaraj, who originally served as a Congress MLA representing Kollegal, shifted allegiances to the BJP for a second time after being overlooked for a Congress ticket in the 2023 Assembly polls. The strategic support from Yediyurappa and Vijayendra not only facilitated his return to the BJP but also secured his position as the party’s nominee for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. This move followed Balaraj’s support for BJP candidate N Mahesh in the 2023 Assembly election, underlining a mutual commitment to party objectives.
Hailing from Maddur village in the Yalandur taluk of Chamarajanagar district, Balaraj’s political lineage and affiliations have deep roots in the region’s political landscape. The announcement of his candidacy follows the retirement of current Chamarajanagar MP V Srinivas Prasad, concluding a five-decade-long political career. The field for the nomination was competitive, with several aspirants including family members of Prasad and G Narayanaswamy, a notable figure in national bureaucratic circles, vying for the ticket.
Balaraj’s political career, beginning in 1994 with the Congress and characterized by various party switches, reflects a dynamic political trajectory. His affiliation with the late Union Minister Rajashekara Murthy and close association with the late MP R Dhruvanarayan highlight his embeddedness in the region’s political networks. Despite previous electoral setbacks, including losses in Assembly contests and affiliations with multiple parties, Balaraj’s latest nomination by the BJP for the Lok Sabha seat represents a culmination of years of political engagement and alliances.
This nomination underscores the strategic considerations and intra-party dynamics influencing candidate selection within the BJP, spotlighting the influential role of veteran leaders like Yediyurappa in shaping the party’s electoral strategies. As Balaraj prepares for his first Lok Sabha contest, the political landscape of Chamarajanagar braces for an election that will test the strength of political loyalties and the impact of candidate narratives on voter preferences.
