In a significant move, the BJP has opted for a different approach by selecting Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri, a composed and moderate leader, over the fiery Hindutva advocate and long-standing MP Anantkumar Hegde for the Uttara Kannada Lok Sabha seat in Karnataka.
Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri, a seasoned BJP stalwart, boasts a rich political background, having served as a minister and Speaker in the Karnataka Assembly. Despite his extensive experience, this marks his maiden foray into the realm of Lok Sabha elections.
Contrastingly, Anantkumar Hegde has been a fixture in the Uttara Kannada Lok Sabha seat, having represented it in six consecutive general elections since 1996 under the BJP banner.
Despite Hegde's persistent efforts to secure the ticket, the BJP leadership has favored Kageri, who will now contend against former Congress MLA, Dr. Anjali Nimbalkar.
Hegde's bid for the candidacy was marked by controversy, including his contentious remarks about amending the Indian Constitution with a two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha—a statement disavowed by the BJP, which attributed it to Hegde's personal views. Moreover, Hegde faced internal opposition within the party, compounded by his prolonged illness and inaccessibility to party workers.
In contrast, Kageri emerges as a consensus choice within the BJP, characterized by his unblemished reputation and avoidance of controversy.
Notably, Kageri, a six-time MLA, suffered a setback in the 2023 Assembly election from the Sirsi constituency, losing to Congress candidate Bhimanna T Naik.
The Uttara Kannada Lok Sabha constituency encompasses several key Assembly seats, including Khanapur, Kittur, Haliyal, Karwar, Kumta, Bhatkal, Sirsi, and Yellapur.
Reflecting on recent political dynamics, the Congress secured victory in five Assembly seats, while the BJP clinched three in the 2023 polls.
Internal dynamics within the BJP are also notable, with Shivaram Hebbar, the BJP MLA from Sirsi, purportedly distancing himself from party activities and rumored to be considering a switch to the Congress camp.
On the Congress front, RV Deshpande, a prominent figure representing the Haliyal Assembly seat, is reportedly disgruntled over being denied a ministerial position.
The Congress is pinning its electoral hopes on Dr. Anjali Nimbalkar, renowned for her educational background and professional credentials as a doctor and advocate. Dr. Nimbalkar's defeat in the 2023 elections to BJP's Vithal Somanna Halgekar underscores the competitive landscape.
In the backdrop of past electoral victories, Anantkumar Hegde's landslide triumph in the 2019 general elections by a staggering margin of 4.79 lakh votes underscores the BJP's historical stronghold in the Uttara Kannada constituency.
As the political landscape evolves, the BJP remains optimistic about retaining its dominance in Uttara Kannada with Kageri at the helm, while the Congress aims to leverage assurances and the candidacy of a highly-educated woman to sway voters in its favor.
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