In the sprawling expanse of Uttara Kannada Lok Sabha constituency, amidst its verdant forests and vibrant biodiversity, the BJP’s nominee and former Karnataka Assembly Speaker, Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri, emerges as a formidable frontrunner. He commands a commanding lead over his Congress counterpart, Anjali Nimbalkar, signaling a potential political shift in this picturesque region.
The decision to nominate Kageri over the incumbent and controversial figure, Anantkumar Hegde, a six-time MP known for his incendiary remarks earlier this year, underscores the BJP’s strategic recalibration. Disavowing Hegde’s contentious statements, the party swiftly pivoted towards Kageri, affirming its commitment to a more measured discourse.
A seasoned six-time MLA and former Minister, Kageri’s political trajectory is marked by resilience, having faced defeat in the previous Assembly elections. Now, he confronts Nimbalkar, a one-time MLA representing the Congress, in a battle for electoral supremacy.
Spanning across Sirsi, Yellapur, Kumta, Haliyal, Karwar, and Bhatkal Assembly segments of Uttara Kannada district, along with Khanapur and Kittur Assembly segments of Belagavi district, this Lok Sabha constituency embodies a mosaic of political affiliations. With Congress holding sway over five segments and BJP over three, the electoral landscape is dynamic and fiercely contested.
The 2024 polls witnessed an impressive voter turnout, with 1,256,027 ballots cast out of a registered electorate of 1,641,156, according to the Election Commission’s records. Conducted on May 7, 2024, during the third phase of elections, this exercise in democratic participation reaffirmed the constituency’s commitment to the electoral process.
Reflecting on past electoral dynamics, Anantkumar Hegde’s resounding victory in the 2019 LS Polls, securing 786,042 votes and defeating his JD(S) rival by a staggering margin, epitomized the BJP’s dominance. Similarly, in 2014, Hegde’s triumph, garnering 546,939 votes and defeating the Congress candidate by a significant margin, underscored his enduring political prowess.
