Mysuru: Last time, JD (S) won with a landslide victory in Old Mysuru region. However, this time JD (S) is facing strong competition from Congress and BJP. So it can be said that retaining the stronghold is a challenge for JD (S). JD (S) Supremo and Former Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda and Former Chief Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy are the main leaders who attract voters. But due to Deve Gowda’s health problem, it is difficult for him to campaign this time in all quarters. It can also backfire.
Moreover, like the Congress and BJP, there is also a shortage of second level leaders in the party. Hence, JD (S) campaign may suffer. Apart from Old Mysuru, the party does not have much strength in North Karnataka, Central Karnataka and Coastal areas. There is also shortage of workers at the booth level. JD (S), which has lagged behind in resource mobilisation like national parties, faced a dearth of candidates in many constituencies. All this has become a challenge for JDS.
There are 57 constituencies in Old Mysuru. Election victory in these constituencies is important if any party wants majority in the state. In these constituencies, the Vokkaliga community is 17%, and the opinion of political analysts is that whoever is favoured by them will get the power. Old Mysuru region is considered very strong in terms of electoral strategy in the state. This area also has the distinction of being a traditional stronghold of the JD (S). Currently, in the background of Assembly elections, there are rapid political changes in this constituency, and this time it has become most-happening constituency. The national parties like BJP and Congress have also attacked the JD (S) stronghold and are making various strategies to demolish the JD (S) fortress. It is another special thing that the three candidates eyeing the post of CM are also from Old Mysuru. A total of 52 seats in Mandya, Mysore, Hassan, Chamarajanagara, Tumakuru, Ramanagara, Kolar, Chikkaballapura, Bengaluru Rural districts of Old Mysuru region are crucial for BJP, Congress and JD (S). On the other hand, the political analysts are of the opinion that any party that wins in Old Mysuru, can win Karnataka and take power. JD (S) has strengthened its hold in recent decade.
Although the Vokkaliga community’s vote is 17% in Old Mysuru, it cannot be ruled out that these constituencies are also dominated by SC/ST. At one time the Congress was dominating the entire region. Congress would have got a better position from here. But in the last few elections, they did not get expected seats. In the 2018 elections, the Congress won 20 seats in the Old Mysuru region. It was 6 places lower than 2013. However, since KPCC President D. K. Shivakumar is also a Vokkaliga, the Congress still has many expectations here.
There is still a possibility of a three-way contest in the current Assembly elections among the three parties. There is no big face of Vokkaliga community in BJP. Therefore, it is not possible to achieve in these fields. In the last in Assembly elections, BJP increased some seats from here, but compared to JD (S) and Congress, BJP was lagging behind. Now this time BJP has entered the arena with a new calculation. Due to the high number of Lingayat votes in Varuna constituency, Minister V. Somanna has been pitted against Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Similarly, in Kanakapura, Minister R. Ashok has contested against D. K. Shivakumar, who is a strong candidate. Still in Mysuru, Mandya and other places, BJP has made a new strategy by allowing new faces. A lot of campaigning is being done in this part by the National leaders with the intention of getting more seats in the Old Mysuru part. Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a road show in Mandya before the election date was announced. Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had given a rousing speech during his election campaign. MP Sumalatha Ambarish also is supporting BJP this time. BJP’s main agenda is to break the fortress of JDS in Mysore and Mandya Districts.
Congress and BJP are planning to break the old Mysuru area, which is the stronghold of JDS. Since 1983, H. D. Deve Gowda has had an influence on the majority community. A total of 46 seats were won from here in 2004 and JD (S) had made its mark in this region. Along with this, JD (S) will play an important role in this election as well and is making a strategy to take power in the state once again as a king maker.
Last time, JD (S) got a landslide victory in Old Mysuru. Apart from Old Mysuru, the JDS party does not have much strength in Coastal, North Karnataka and Central Karnataka. Like Congress and BJP, there is a shortage of workers at the booth level. BJP-Congress lag behind in resource mobilisation. Also, lack of candidates in many constituencies is another challenge for JD (S). It has been calculated that it can roll the dice in power politics only if it captures more seats in its territory. Hence, the JD (S) has tried to win more seats in Old Mysuru
A few days ago in Mysuru, Kumaraswamy performed a power show at the closing ceremony of the Pancharatna Rath Yatra. Former Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda gave an emotional speech which drew the attention of the people of the state. H. D. Kumaraswamy is now hoping for the support given to his party by the people, especially the Vokkaliga Samaj voters, in 1994 in Old Mysuru under the leadership of his father, H. D. Deve Gowda. Thus Janata Dal has proposed that it has won more seats in this segment. But JD (S) does not have the same situation as Janata Dal. There were strong leaders in the Janata Dal at that time. H. D. Deve Gowda emerged as a mass leader. Now it is not so easy for JD (S). The question has arisen whether JD (S) has the favourable situation of the last 2018 Assembly elections, regardless of the situation of 1994 Assembly elections.
There are 57 Assembly constituencies in Old Mysuru. JD (S) won 27 seats in 2018 Assembly elections. Congress had won in 17 constituencies and BJP in 11 constituencies. After Operation Kamala, BJP’s seats increased to 15. In the last 2018 Assembly elections, JD (S) performance in Chikkamagaluru, Kodagu and Chamarajanagara Districts was zero. 4 out of 11 in Tumakuru, 1 out of 5 in Chikkaballapura, 1 out of 6 in Kolar, and 7 out of 7 in Mandya. In Hassan, JD (S) got 6 out of 7 seats. In Mysuru, JD (S) won 5 out of 11 seats and 3 seats out of 4 in Ramanagara. It will be known on May 13 whether JD (S);will return the previous result in this Assembly election.