Power Play: Congress Chief Takes Bengaluru by Storm

In the realm of political maneuvers, Mallikarjun Kharge, the distinguished leader of the Congress, is set to make a triumphant return to his native Karnataka on the 22nd of April. His mission? To solicit the support of the electorate for the party’s nominees in two pivotal constituencies: Bengaluru Rural and Chikkaballapur.

“The eminent Congress leader is scheduled to conduct vigorous campaigns in the constituencies of Bengaluru Rural and Chikkaballapur on the 22nd of April. In 2018, we made the noble sacrifice of relinquishing the chief ministerial position to the JD-S in a bid to thwart the BJP’s ascent. Alas, they have now turned their back on us. But fear not, the electorate shall impart a profound lesson,” declared Abhishek Dutt, the AICC secretary overseeing affairs in Karnataka, in an exclusive with ETV Bharat.

The incumbent Member of Parliament, DK Suresh, hailing from a prominent political lineage as the brother of the state unit chief and deputy chief minister DK Shiv Kumar, stands as the Congress’s torchbearer for the Bengaluru Rural constituency this electoral season. His adversary? Dr CK Manjunath, the son-in-law of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, contesting under the banner of a BJP-JD-S alliance—a contest brimming with high-profile intensity.

In the preceding 2019 electoral bout, DK Suresh emerged as the solitary Congress MP from Karnataka. The party, in alliance with JD-S, fielded candidates across 21 out of the 28 constituencies, managing to clinch Bengaluru Rural amidst a BJP deluge that secured 25 seats for the saffron party. JD-S, contesting seven seats, could only secure one victory.

This time around, JD-S has forged an alliance with the BJP, vying for victory across three constituencies. For the DK siblings, the retention of the Bengaluru Rural seat has transcended mere electoral significance; it has evolved into a matter of utmost prestige, with the deputy chief minister vowing to deliver 20 seats in 2024, buoyed by the historic mandate of 2023 where the party triumphed with 135 out of 224 seats in the assembly polls.

In Chikkaballapur, once the bastion of the veteran Veerappa Moily, the Congress has nominated the youthful face of Raksha Ramaiah to challenge the BJP’s K Sudhakar.

“The Congress’s campaign is gaining substantial traction. Despite the BJP’s attempts at polarization, the discerning electorate has become astute. This time, the Congress shall reverse the 2019 electoral trends and secure 25 seats,” affirmed the former Union Minister Veerappa Moily in an exclusive interaction with ETV Bharat.

“DK Suresh, an indelible part of the soil, remains deeply entrenched in the hearts of the populace year-round. He is waging a commendable electoral battle. His opponent, Dr. Manjunath, may be a proficient doctor, but venturing into the political arena was a misstep. Victory shall undoubtedly be DK Suresh’s. In Chikkaballapur, Raksha Ramaiah’s campaign is garnering momentum, poised for triumph,” he asserted.

Echoing the sentiments of the seasoned political veteran, a sense of democracy fatigue appears to have permeated the nation due to the unfulfilled promises of the central government over the past decade.

“A significant number of first-time voters, despite being registered, opted for abstention, and vast swathes of Nagaland remained silent during phase one. This democracy fatigue poses a grave threat to our nation. The policies of the central government bear responsibility for this predicament. The youth, disillusioned, are voicing their discontent,” elucidated Moily.

The Congress stalwart affirmed that the social welfare agenda spearheaded by the Karnataka government and championed by the grand old party at the national level shall prove pivotal.

“Employment and the specter of rising prices stand as the crux of the matter, and the electorate shall heed those who address these issues. Not those who seek to sow discord along religious or caste lines,” concluded Moily with conviction.