Congress enlists former BJP heavyweights to weaken saffron hold in Kittur region

Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT

Bengaluru: Two former BJP stalwarts are reportedly aiding Congress leaders in their quest to conquer the stronghold of the saffron party in the Kittur region of Karnataka.

Former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar and former Deputy Chief Minister Lakshman Savadi, who defected from the BJP before the Assembly polls due to ticket denial and joined the Congress Party, are believed to be sharing strategies employed by their former party in previous parliamentary elections.

Notably, both Shettar and Savadi were integral members of the strategy team that orchestrated victories in numerous Lok Sabha polls in the past.

Their departure has left the BJP grappling to identify alternative leaders capable of filling their void.

Given that Kalyana Karnataka region is largely influenced by various sects of Lingayats, both Shettar and Savadi boast of connections that extend into these often overlooked groups.

It is these attributes that make the two leaders highly coveted assets for the Congress Party. The BJP’s appeal to former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa to assist the party stems from his widespread acceptance as a prominent Lingayat leader across Karnataka.

The Congress Party, on the other hand, is engaged in a calculated gamble to woo Lingayat leaders in a bid to enhance its presence in both the Kalyana Karnataka and Kittur Karnataka regions.

While the party’s influence had waned in these regions, a resurgence was witnessed in the recently concluded Assembly polls, where the Congress Party clinched more seats than the BJP.

The strategic enlistment of Shettar and Savadi further underscores the Congress Party’s determination to challenge the BJP’s dominance, particularly in regions that were once considered unassailable.

The outcome of this political chess match could have far-reaching implications for both parties in the forthcoming elections.