The Shivamogga Parliamentary constituency in Karnataka witnessed an eventful day as B.Y. Raghavendra, the son of former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, submitted his nomination papers for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Raghavendra, who currently holds the position of Member of Parliament from Shivamogga, expressed confidence in his candidacy during a press interaction following the nomination process. He emphasized the support garnered from the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) alliance and the active involvement of party workers in the campaign.
Accompanied by former Chief Ministers H.D. Kumaraswamy and Basavaraj Bommai, as well as his father Yediyurappa, Raghavendra participated in a roadshow and public function to mark the occasion. He projected optimism about securing a larger margin of victory compared to the previous election, attributing it to the accomplishments and developmental work undertaken.
Highlighting the shifting political landscape, Raghavendra criticized the Congress party for its leaders defecting to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in certain towns, portraying it as a sign of the Congress's declining influence. Meanwhile, BJP MLA Araga Jnanedra urged rebel leader K.S. Eshwarappa, contesting independently against Raghavendra, to reconsider and extend support to the BJP.
Responding to Eshwarappa's allegations of collusion with the ruling Congress, Raghavendra dismissed them as baseless, asserting his unwavering commitment to the BJP. He exuded confidence in securing a decisive victory, echoed by former CM Basavaraj Bommai, who predicted a significant margin of over 4.5 lakh votes in Raghavendra's favor.
In contrast, Eshwarappa remained resolute in his determination to challenge Raghavendra, accusing him of engaging in backroom dealings with the Congress. He claimed to be the target of attacks from both BJP and Congress candidates, underscoring his perceived threat to their electoral prospects.
Meanwhile, Geetha Shivarajkumar, the Congress candidate, intensified her campaign efforts in the constituency, bolstered by Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar's assertion of public demand for change in Shivamogga. Amidst these competing narratives and political maneuvering, the stage is set for a fiercely contested election in Shivamogga.
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