BJP, JD(S) leave rebel leaders out of by-poll campaigns

At a time when the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) thought it had the ruling Congress on the ropes with corruption al legations, they’ve had to contend with infighting, leading to exclusion of rebel leaders from their list of star campaigners. The BJP recently released a 40-person list of major leaders who would canvas for the upcoming Sandur, Shiggaon and Channapatna by-elections slated for November 13. The exclusions include critics of Lingayat strongman BS Yediyurappa and his son BY Vijayendra, who reckon the family has a stranglehold on the party.

Prime among those shunned are BJP MLA from Vijayapura and Hindutva ideologue Basangouda Patil Yatnal, Gokak MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi and former MP Pratap Simha. Meanwhi le, partners JD(S) have left out Chamundeshwari MLA and party core commit tee Chairman GT Devegowda from its Channapatna campaign. The Vokkaliga leader had been absent in the NDA’s joint Bengaluru to Mysuru padayatra (march) back in August, which had been conducted to demand Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s resignation on account of the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) illegal land allotment scam. In October, the JD(S) leader shared the dais with Siddaramaiah and claimed there was no need for the CM to resign from his post. GT Devegowda is said to be sulking over not being appointed the JD(S) legislature party leader and the post going to Chikkanayakanahalli MLA Suresh Babu instead.

Congress forms teams; Meanwhile, Deputy CM and Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar has mobilized upwards of 600 workers for the three byelections. Apparently, these include a team of 182 functionaries in Shiggaon, 148 in Sandur and 316 in Channapatna. The team has been broken into Zilla Panchayat and Gram Panchayat units and given responsibilities within those geographical spaces. The teams include some 20 MLAs and nearly all ministers, besides some MLCs and MPs as well. Caste and community arithmetic is also at play.

Ministers woo communities; For instance, in Shiggaon, Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar is wooing fellow Panchamasali Lingayats while Housing Minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan is trying to win over Muslim voters. Former CM Basavaraj Bommai is trying to retain his stronghold in Shiggaon, a seat he vacated and now wants to be represented by his son and BJP candidate Bharat. Congress on the other hand has fielded Yasir Ahmed Khan Pathan who lost to Bommai senior back in 2023. The Grand Old Party is also buoyed by getting rebel candidate Azeempeer Khadri to withdraw his nomination. The Opposition BJP and JD(S) have alleged that Khadri had been abducted by Congress and pressured into holding a press conference and agreeing to drop out of the race.