With 4 rallies, PM Modi to kick off BJP’s campaign in Karnataka this week

The campaign events are being announced even before the party picks candidates for the polls. Though the Bharatiya Janata Party had announced the first list of 195 candidates earlier this month, those for Karnataka were not announced owing to negotiations over seat-sharing with its coalition partner in the state, the JD(S).

Sumalatha, the Independent candidate from Mandya constituency, has added to the BJP’s troubles of picking candidates, along with social media campaigns against the likes of Union Minister of State for Agriculture Shobha Karandlaje.

Talking to media persons recently, Sumalatha had expressed confidence about being fielded by the BJP from the Mandya Lok Sabha constituency. However, the JD(S) is also keen on the ticket as the segment falls in the Vokkaliga-dominated Old Mysore region.

The JD(S), which was eyeing to contest from five constituencies of Old Mysore, had its hopes dashed as the BJP leadership offered only three of the 28 constituencies in the state. The JD(S), it is learnt, is now pushing to contest from four constituencies in the state. There are also speculations that leaders backed by the JD(S) could join the BJP and contest polls as part of the coalition arrangement.

Karandlaje, meanwhile, is finding opposition from some party workers who shouted ‘Shobha Go Back’ slogans at a party meeting in Chikkamagaluru. She represents the Udupi-Chikkamagaluru Lok Sabha constituency, which covers two districts. Those from Chikkamagaluru insist that a candidate from the hill district should be fielded for the 2024 Lok Sabha election.

Union Minister of State Bhagwanth Khuba, who represents Bidar, is also facing opposition. While BJP MLA and former minister Prabhu Chauhan does not see eye to eye with Khuba, it learnt that other MLAs from Bidar district are opposed to the MoS for New and Renewable Energy.

In the Tumkur constituency, former minister V Somanna has started his campaign, hoping he would be fielded from the constituency. This has found opposition from workers backing another former minister J C Madhuswamy, who is being considered as an aspirant.

Similarly, some former MLAs from the Mysuru region have expressed reservations over fielding Pratap Simha from the Mysore-Kodagu Lok Sabha segment. While Simha is confident of being fielded for the third time for the segment, the name of Yaduveer Wodeyar of the Mysore royal family is also doing the rounds as a potential BJP candidate.