What happened in the 2018 elections, when the last polls were held?

The 2018 Assembly election results did not give any party a clear majority. After the results, the BJP was called to form the government as the single-largest party, with 104 MLAs in a House of 224. However, the Congress and JD(S) quickly came together and assembled 116 names (Congress 76, JD-S 37 and three independents) to remove it. Within a year though, the Congress-JD(S) had been toppled when 17 of their MLAs resigned from the Assembly — after being holed up in a resort in Mumbai leading up to this — and switched sides to the BJP. Karnataka BJP stalwart BS Yediyurappa became the chief minister but resigned on July 26, 2021. He was replaced by Basavaraj Bommai, who, like Yediyurappa, hails from the Lingayat community.

What is the main challenge for the BJP in Karnataka?

In both its terms in government (2008-13 and 2019 to date), the BJP did not win a clear majority in Karnataka, the only state it is in power in south India. But here is perhaps the biggest roadblock: Karnataka has never voted an incumbent back to power in 40 years.

What are some of the key conversations playing out ahead of the Karnataka polls?

Karnataka is by and large governed by specific, local factors. Hence, its caste-matrix and regional specificities have dominated the conversation at the time of the candidate selection and will likely do so going forward.

Who are the big players in Karnataka?

Naturally, the BJP, whose core base is said to be among the dominant Lingayat community. The Congress has a strong local cadre, with bastions across the state. Over the years, it has also found the backing from the SCs and STs in the state (Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is a tall Dalit Congress leader from the state). The Janata Dal (Secular) – the party of former prime minister Deve Gowda – has an influence in the old Mysuru region in the state's South. It is considered that the JD(S)'s best bet is another fractured verdict like in 2004 and 2018, which would place it - like before - in the kingmaker’s seat.

How important are the Lingayats?

At nearly 17 per cent of the population, Lingayats are believed to be the state’s single largest community and reside mostly in North and Central Karnataka districts. Until the 1990s, the Lingayats, followers of Basavanna, a social reformer, largely voted for the Congress. In 1989, it formed the government in the state with the largest majority ever, 179 out of the 224 seats in the Assembly, because of the Lingayat votes mobilised by Veerendra Patil. Then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi’s dismissal of Patil in 1990 is said to have moved the Lingayats away from the Congress towards the BJP. This also led to the rise of BS Yediyurappa as the community’s face in the BJP. He remains its most popular leader, despite alleged attempts to sideline him. Congress, too, is trying hard to woo the Lingayat community with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi leading the outreach by visiting important pilgrimage sites for Lingayats, prominent mutts and more recently participating in Basava Jayanti celebrations.

What about the Vokkaligas?

Said to be the second-largest community in the state, they have historically voted either for the JD(S) or Congress. Former Prime Minister Deve Gowda and Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar are from the community. Several constituencies of the Vokkaliga heartland are bastions for the JD(S) and Congress, and BJP has stepped up its efforts to make inroads in the region during the upcoming election.

How have different parts of Karnataka voted over the years?

Kalyana Karnataka: Earlier called Hyderabad Karnataka, this part has remained a Congress stronghold. The party is working on improving its tally there this time, and is hoping the election of Kharge — who hails from the region — as the AICC president will generate a “wave” to further boost its prospects. Analysis of results across 40 constituencies of the region shows the Congress has won more than 50 per cent of these in the last two elections, while the BJP has lost some ground it had gained in the 2008 polls. Coastal Karnataka: The BJP produced a stirring performance in the coastal regions of Karnataka in 2018, winning 18 out of a total of 21 seats. It has been a saffron party stronghold. While the Congress could only manage to secure three seats, down from 13, JD(S) got zero. Bombay Karnataka: In 2018, the BJP won 30 out of the 50 seats here, in a reiterating signal of its support from the Lingayats. The Congress got 17 seats. Central Karnataka: It comprises a total of 32 constituencies and has kept offering rich dividends to the BJP over the last decade and a half. Save for the 2013 Assembly polls, the BJP has bagged the most seats in the region since 2008. In 2018, the BJP won 21 of the seats, the Congress seven and the JD(S) won four. Old Mysuru: This region has so far only seen close contests between the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular). When Union Minister Amit Shah launched the BJP’s Karnataka election campaign last December from Mandya in the southern part of the state, his underlying message for party workers was clear: make further inroads here. Across all of the state’s Assembly polls, the BJP has struggled to cross the double-digit mark in the 48 constituencies in the region’s eight districts. South Karnataka is dominated by the Vokkaliga community that has largely favoured either the JD(S) or the Congress over the years.

What about Bengaluru? Who performs well in the city?

The Congress has been faring better than the BJP in the Bengaluru Urban district, which comprises 28 seats, in the last two Assembly polls. But the 2017 defections that precipitated the fall of the JD(S) and Congress coalition government give the BJP a slight edge in the urban hub.

Are we looking at any Karnataka CM faces?

The BJP has so far not declared a CM face, just as the Congress. In Congress, though, the race is largely considered to be between Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah — who both have a strong group of loyalist party leaders rallying behind them.

Maharashtra Election 2019: Get Latest Updates of Constituency List in Maharashtra Assembly Election 2019

AHMEDNAGAR CITY Sangram Arunkaka Jagtap

AKOLE (ST) Dr. Kiran Yamaji Lahamate

KARJAT JAMKHED Rohit Pawar

KOPARGAON Ashutosh Ashokrao Kale

NEVASA Vitthal Vakilrao Langhe

PARNER Kashinath Mahadu Date Sir

RAHURI Kardile Shivaji Bhanudas

SANGAMNER Amol Dhondiba Khatal

SHEVGAON Monica Rajeev Rajale

SHIRDI Patil Vikhe Radhakrushna Eknathrao

SHRIGONDA Pachpute Vikram Babanrao

SHRIRAMPUR (SC) Ogale Hemant Bhujangrao

AKOLA EAST Randhir Pralhadrao Sawarkar

AKOLA WEST Sajid Khan Pathan

AKOT Prakash Gunwant Bharsakle

BALAPUR Nitin Bhikanrao Deshmukh

MURTIZAPUR (SC) Harish Marotiappa Pimple

ACHALPUR Pravin Vasantrao Tayade

AMRAVATI Sulbha Sanjay Khodke

BADNERA Ravi Gangadhar Rana

DARYAPUR (SC) Gajanan Motiram Lawate

DHAMANGAON RAILWAY Adsad Pratap Arunbhau

MELGHAT (ST) Kewalram Tulsiram Kale

MORSHI Umesh Alias Chandu Atmaramji Yawalkar

TEOSA Rajesh Shriramji Wankhade

AURANGABAD CENTRAL Jaiswal Pradeep Shivnarayan

AURANGABAD EAST Atul Moreshwar Save

AURANGABAD WEST (SC) Sanjay Pandurang Shirsat

GANGAPUR Bumb Prashant Bansilal

KANNAD Ranjanatai (Sanjana) Harshvardhan Jadhav

PAITHAN Bhumre Vilas Sandipanrao

PHULAMBRI Anuradha Atul Chavan

SILLOD Abdul Sattar

VAIJAPUR Bornare (Sir) Ramesh Nanasaheb

ASHTI Dhas Suresh Ramchandra

BEED Sandeep Ravindra Kshirsagar

GEORAI Vijaysinh Shivajirao Pandit

KAIJ (SC) Namita Akshay Mundada

MAJALGAON Prakash (Dada) Sunadarrao Solanke

PARLI Dhananjay Panditrao Munde

BHANDARA (SC) Bhondekar Narendra Bhojraj

SAKOLI Nanabhau Falgunrao Patole

TUMSAR Karemore Raju Manikrao

BULDHANA Gaikwad Sanjay Rambhau

CHIKHLI Mrs Shweta Vidyadhar Mahale

JALGAON (JAMOD) Kute Sanjay Shriram

KHAMGAON Akash Pandurang Fundkar

MALKAPUR Chainsukh Madanlal Sancheti

MEHKAR (SC) Kharat Siddharth Rambhau

SINDKHED RAJA Kayande Manoj Devanand

BALLARPUR Mungantiwar Sudhir Sacchidanand

BRAHMAPURI Vijay Namdeorao Wadettiwar

CHANDRAPUR (SC) Jorgewar Kishor Gajanan

CHIMUR Banti Bhangdiya

RAJURA Deorao Vithoba Bhongle

WARORA Karan Sanjay Deotale

DHULE CITY Agrawal Anupbhaiyya Omprakash

DHULE RURAL Raghavendra (Ramdada) Manohar Patil

SAKRI (ST) Manjula Tulshiram Gavit

SHIRPUR (ST) Kashiram Vechan Pawara

SINDKHEDA Jaykumar Jitendrasinh Rawal

AHERI (ST) Atram Dharamraobaba Bhagwantrao

ARMORI (ST) Ramdas Maluji Masram

GADCHIROLI (ST) Dr. Milind Ramji Narote

AMGAON (ST) Sanjay Puram

ARJUNI MORGAON (SC) Badole Rajkumar Sudam

GONDIA Agrawal Vinod

TIRORA Vijay Bharatlal Rahangdale

BASMATH Chandrakant Alias Rajubhaiya Ramakant Navghare

HINGOLI Mutkule Tanhaji Sakharamji

KALAMNURI Bangar Santosh Laxmanrao

AMALNER Anil Bhaidas Patil

BHUSAWAL (SC) Savkare Sanjay Waman

CHALISGAON Mangesh Ramesh Chavan

CHOPDA (ST) Chandrakant Baliram Sonawane

ERANDOL Amol Chimanrao Patil

JALGAON CITY Suresh Damu Bhole (Raju Mama)

JALGAON RURAL Gulabrao Raghunath Patil

JAMNER Girish Dattatray Mahajan

MUKTAINAGAR Chandrakant Nimba Patil

PACHORA Kishor Appa Patil

RAVER Amol Haribhau Jawale

BADNAPUR (SC) Kuche Narayan Tilakchand

BHOKARDAN Danve Santosh Raosaheb

GHANSAWANGI Udhan Hikmat Baliram

JALNA Arjun Panditrao Khotkar

PARTUR Babanrao Dattatray Yadav (Lonikar)

CHANDGAD Shivaji Shattupa Patil

HATKANANGLE (SC) Dalitmitra Dr.Ashokrao Mane(Bapu

ICHALKARANJI Rahul Prakash Awade

KAGAL Mushrif Hasan Miyalal

KARVIR Chandradeep Shashikant Narake

KOLHAPUR NORTH Rajesh Vinayak Kshirsagar

KOLHAPUR SOUTH Amal Mahadevrao Mahadik

RADHANAGARI Abitkar Prakash Anandrao

SHAHUWADI Dr. Vinay Vilasrao Kore (Savkar)

SHIROL Rajendra Shamgonda Patil (Yadravkar)

AHMEDPUR Babasaheb Mohanrao Patil

AUSA Abhimanyu Dattatray Pawar

LATUR CITY Amit Vilasrao Deshmukh

LATUR RURAL Ramesh Kashiram Karad

NILANGA Nilangekar Sambhaji Diliprao Patil

UDGIR (SC) Sanjay Baburao Bansode

BYCULLA Manoj Pandurang Jamsutkar

COLABA Adv Rahul Suresh Narwekar

DHARAVI (SC) Dr. Gaikwad Jyoti Eknath

MAHIM Mahesh Baliram Sawant

MALABAR HILL Mangal Prabhat Lodha

MUMBADEVI Amin Patel

SHIVADI Ajay Vinayak Choudhari

SION KOLIWADA Captain R Tamil Selvan

WADALA Kalidas Nilkanth Kolambkar

WORLI Aditya Uddhav Thackeray

ANDHERI WEST Ameet Bhaskar Satam

ANDHERI EAST Murji Patel (Kaka)

ANUSHAKTI NAGAR Sana Malik

BHANDUP WEST Ashok Dharmaraj Patil

BORIVALI Sanjay Upadhyay

CHANDIVALI Dilip Bhausaheb Lande

CHARKOP Yogesh Sagar

CHEMBUR Tukaram Ramkrushna Kate

DAHISAR Chaudhary Manisha Ashok

DINDOSHI Sunil Waman Prabhu

GHATKOPAR WEST Ram Kadam

GHATKOPAR EAST Parag Shah

GOREGAON Vidya Jaiprakash Thakur

JOGESHWARI EAST Anant (Bala) B. Nar

KALINA Sanjay Govind Potnis

KANDIVALI EAST Atul Bhatkhalkar

KURLA (SC) Kudalkar Mangesh

MAGATHANE Prakash Surve

MALAD WEST Aslam Ramjanali Shaikh

MANKHURD SHIVAJINAGAR Abu Asim Azmi

MULUND Mihir Kotecha

VANDRE WEST Adv. Ashish Shelar

VANDRE EAST Varun Satish Sardesai

VERSOVA Haroon Khan

VIKHROLI Sunil Rajaram Raut

VILE PARLE Alavani Parag

HINGNA Sameer Dattatraya Meghe

KAMTHI Chandrashekhar Krushnarao Bawankule

KATOL Charansing Babulalji Thakur

NAGPUR CENTRAL Datke Pravin Prabhakarrao

NAGPUR EAST Khopde Krishna Pancham

NAGPUR NORTH (SC) Dr Nitin Kashinath Raut

NAGPUR SOUTH Mohan Gopalrao Mate

NAGPUR SOUTH WEST Devendra Gangadhar Fadnavis

NAGPUR WEST Vikas Pandurang Thakre

RAMTEK Ashish Nandkishore Jaiswal(Vakil)

SAVNER Dr Ashishrao Deshmukh

UMRED (SC) Sanjay Narayanrao Meshram

BHOKAR Chavan Sreejaya Ashokrao

DEGLUR (SC) Antapurkar Jitesh Raosaheb

HADGAON Kohlikar Baburao Kadam

KINWAT Bhimrao Ramji Keram

LOHA Prataprao Patil Chikhalikar

MUKHED Tushar Govindrao Rathod

NAIGAON Rajesh Sambhajirao Pawar

NANDED NORTH Balaji Devidasrao Kalyankar

NANDED SOUTH Anand Shankar Tidke

AKKALKUWA (ST) Amshya Fulji Padvi

NANDURBAR (ST) Dr.Vijaykumar Krushanrao Gavit

NAWAPUR (ST) Shirishkumar Surupsing Naik

SHAHADA (ST) Rajesh Udesing Padvi

BAGLAN (ST) Dilip Manglu Borse

CHANDWAD Dr.Aher Rahul Daulatrao

DEOLALI (SC) Ahire Saroj Babulal

DINDORI (ST) Narahari Sitaram Zirwal

IGATPURI (ST) Khoskar Hiraman Bhika

KALWAN (ST) Nitinbhau Arjun (A.T.) Pawar

MALEGAON CENTRAL Mufti Mohammad Ismail Abdul Khalique

MALEGAON OUTER Dadaji Dagdu Bhuse

NANDGAON Suhas (Aanna) Dwarkanath Kande

NASHIK WEST Hiray Seema Mahesh

NASHIK (CENTRAL) Devyani Suhas Pharande

NASHIK EAST Adv.Rahul Uttamrao Dhikale

NIPHAD Bankar Diliprao Shankarrao

SINNAR Adv. Kokate Manikrao Shivaji

YEVLA Chhagan Bhujbal

OSMANABAD Kailas Balasaheb Ghadge Patil

PARANDA Prof.Dr.Tanaji Jayawant Sawant

TULJAPUR Ranajagjitsinha Padmasinha Patil

OMERGA (SC) Pravin Virbhadrayya Swami (Sir)

BOISAR (ST) Vilas Sukur Tare

DAHANU (ST) Vinod Bhiva Nikole

NALASOPARA Rajan Balkrishna Naik

PALGHAR (ST) Gavit Rajendra Dhedya

VASAI Sneha Dube Pandit

VIKRAMGAD (ST) Bhoye Harishchandra Sakharam

GANGAKHED Gutte Ratnakar Manikrao

JINTUR Bordikar Meghna Deepak Sakore

PARBHANI Dr. Rahul Vedprakash Patil

PATHRI Rajesh Uttamrao Vitekar

AMBEGAON Dilip Dattatray Walse Patil

BARAMATI Ajit Anantrao Pawar

BHOR Shankar Hiraman Mandekar

BHOSARI Mahesh (Dada) Kisan Landge

CHINCHWAD Jagtap Shankar Pandurang

DAUND Kul Rahul Subhashrao

HADAPSAR Chetan Vitthal Tupe

INDAPUR Dattatraya Vithoba Bharane

JUNNAR Sharaddada Bhimaji Sonawane

KASBA PETH Hemant Narayan Rasane

KHADAKWASALA Bhimrao Dhondiba Tapkir

KHED ALANDI Babaji Ramchandra Kale

KOTHRUD Chandrakant (Dada) Bachhu Patil

MAVAL Sunil Shankarrao Shelke

PARVATI Madhuri Satish Misal

PIMPRI (SC) Anna Dadu Bansode

PUNE CANTONMENT (SC) Kamble Sunil Dyandev

PURANDAR Vijaybapu Shivtare

SHIRUR Dnyaneshwar Alias Mauli Aba Katke

SHIVAJINAGAR Siddharth Anil Shirole

VADGAON SHERI Bapusaheb Tukaram Pathare

ALIBAG Mahendra Hari Dalvi

KARJAT Thorve Mahendra Sadashiv

MAHAD Gogawale Bharat Maruti

PANVEL Prashant Ramsheth Thakur

PEN Ravisheth Patil

SHRIVARDHAN Aditi Sunil Tatkare

URAN Mahesh Baldi

CHIPLUN Shekhar Govindrao Nikam

DAPOLI Kadam Yogeshdada Ramdas

GUHAGAR Jadhav Bhaskar Bhaurao

RAJAPUR Kiran Alias Bhaiyya Samant

RATNAGIRI Uday Ravindra Samant

ISLAMPUR Jayant Rajaram Patil

JAT Gopichand Kundlik Padalkar

KHANAPUR Babar Suhas Anilbhau

MIRAJ (SC) Dr. Suresh(Bhau) Dagadu Khade

PALUS-KADEGAON Kadam Vishwajit Patangrao

SANGLI Dhananjay Hari Gadgil

SHIRALA Deshmukh Satyajit Shivajirao

TASGAON-KAVATHE MAHANKAL Rohit Suman R.R. Aba Patil

KARAD NORTH Manoj Bhimrao Ghorpade

KARAD SOUTH Dr Atulbaba Suresh Bhosale

KOREGAON Mahesh Sambhajiraje Shinde

MAN Jaykumar Bhagavanrao Gore

PATAN Desai Shambhuraj Shivajirao

PHALTAN (SC) Sachin Patil

SATARA Shivendraraje Abhaysinhraje Bhonsle

WAI Makrand Laxmanrao Jadhav (Patil)

KANKAVLI Nitesh Narayan Rane

KUDAL Nilesh Narayan Rane

SAWANTWADI Deepak Vasantrao Kesarkar

AKKALKOT Kalyanshetti Sachin Panchappa

BARSHI Dilip Gangadhar Sopal

KARMALA Narayan (Aba) Govindrao Patil

MADHA Abhijeet Dhananjay Patil

MALSHIRAS (SC) UTTAMRAO SHIVDAS JANKAR

MOHOL (SC) Khare Raju Dnyanu

PANDHARPUR Autade Samadhan Mahadeo

SANGOLA Dr. Babasaheb Annasaheb Deshmukh

SOLAPUR CITY CENTRAL Devendra Rajesh Kothe

SOLAPUR CITY NORTH Deshmukh Vijay Sidramappa

SOLAPUR SOUTH Deshmukh Subhash Sureshchandra

AIROLI Ganesh Ramchandra Naik

AMBARNATH (SC) Dr. Balaji Pralhad Kinikar

BELAPUR Manda Vijay Mhatre

BHIWANDI WEST Choughule Mahesh Prabhakar

BHIWANDI EAST Rais Kasam Shaikh

BHIWANDI RURAL (ST) Shantaram Tukaram More

DOMBIVALI Chavan Ravindra Dattatray

KALYAN WEST Vishwanath Atmaram Bhoir

KALYAN EAST Sulbha Ganpat Gaikwad

KALYAN RURAL Rajesh Govardhan More

KOPRI-PACHPAKHADI Eknath Sambhaji Shinde

MEERA BHAYANDAR Narendra Mehta

MUMBRA-KALWA Awhad Jitendra Satish

MURBAD Kisan Shankar Kathore

OVALA MAJIWADA Pratap Baburao Sarnaik

SHAHAPUR (ST) Daulat Bhika Daroda

THANE Sanjay Mukund Kelkar

ULHASNAGAR Ailani Kumar Uttamchand

ARVI Sumit Wankhede

DEOLI Rajesh Bhaurao Bakane

HINGANGHAT Samir Tryambakrao Kunawar

WARDHA Dr. Pankaj Rajesh Bhoyar

KARANJA Sai Prakash Dahake

RISOD Ameet Subhashrao Zanak

WASHIM (SC) Shyam Ramcharan Khode

ARNI (ST) Raju Narayan Todsam

DIGRAS Rathod Sanjay Dulichand

PUSAD Indranil Manohar Naik

RALEGAON (ST) Prof. Dr. Ashok Ramaji Wooike

UMARKHED (SC) Kisan Maroti Wankhede

WANI Derkar Sanjay Nilkanthrao

YAVATMAL Anil Alias Balasaheb Shankarrao Mangulkar

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