A prosperous Western Ghats district, Shivamogga has always been the political nerve centre of Karnataka, producing four chief ministers and dozens of other important figures as well as public movements
The Shivamogga Lok Sabha constituency consists of eight assembly segments — Shivamogga Rural (SC), Bhadravati, Shivamogga, Tirtha Halli, Shikaripura, Sorab, Sagar, and Byndoor. The current MP is BY Raghavendra of BJP.
Voting Factors
- Political Nerve Centre: Shivamogga, one of the political hotspots of Karnataka, is witnessing a generational change across parties and district. A prosperous Western Ghats district, Shivamogga has always been the political nerve centre of Karnataka, producing four chief ministers and dozens of other important figures as well as public movements. Children of two former chief ministers will be in the contest for the Shivamogga Lok Sabha seat, making it a high-contest constituency. The BJP has fielded its incumbent MP, BY Raghavendra, from Shivamogga, while the Congress has experimented with Geetha Shivarajkumar. Raghavendra is the son of BS Yediyurappa, while Geetha is the daughter of late S Bangarappa. Raghavendra has been elected to Parliament from Shivamogga three times. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and in the 2018 by-election, he defeated Geetha’s brother Madhu Bangarappa, who is now a minister in the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government. Madhu was then with JD(S). Raghavendra, in his first Lok Sabha election in 2009, had defeated S Bangarappa. Geetha had earlier contested from the seat on a JD(S) ticket in 2014 and lost against Yediyurappa by a huge margin. She had come third in that election behind Congress candidate Manjunath Bhandary.
- BJP’s Chances: The development work by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BY Raghavendra has put BJP in a pole position. Raghavendra and Yediyurappa’s influence reigns supreme. Locally, Yediyurappa and Raghavendra are more popular leaders, active and visible in the constituency. Incidentally, Shivamogga is the birthplace of socialism in Karnataka, farmers’ movement in India, and a stronghold of Congress and BJP as well as RSS. RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale hails from Hosabale village in Shivamogga district. BJP’s powerful general secretary — organisation BL Santhosh was also posted as an RSS full-timer in Shivamogga for 14 years. JDS state president CM Ibrahim hails from Bhadravathi. Shivamogga is securely held by the BJP. The Kesari faction could potentially enhance Hindu religious growth here, as it has been influential in all previous elections. In the Shivamogga Lok Sabha constituency, there are 2 lakh Muslim voters. If the Ediga community voters also show support for the Congress party, with the backing of Muslim and Ediga community votes, the path to victory for Congress might become smoother, making the Muslim community influential.
- BJP’s Challenges: The BJP’s house is not without its set of problems. Senior BJP leader and former deputy chief minister KS Eshwarappa has hinted that he will take a call on his next political move. Eshwarappa has been virtually sidelined by Yeddiyurappa and family. He has called for an internal review in the party and for lessons to be learned from the 2023 assembly defeat. JD(S) is currently not very strong in the region. Its contribution to the BJP kitty will be minimal. Many of its former leaders and workers have defected and joined the Congress and are now involved in campaigning for that party.
- Community Card: The Ediga community, which has 4.1 lakh members, shows a bigger preference for Congress than BJP. Muslims total around two lakh and overwhelmingly support Congress. The Lingayat community, with a population of 2.5 lakh, favours the BJP. The Brahmin community, consisting of 1.5 lakh, also prefers the BJP. Other communities like the Vokkaligas, OBCs etc are equally split in their support. Together, they make up another 4.5 lakh. The SCs, who make up around 2.15 lakh, are leaning marginally towards the Congress.
Key Voter Demographics
Total Voters of Shivamogga parliament seat as of 2019 Parliament Election: 17 lakh (approx.)
Male voters: 8.7 lakh
Female voters: 8.9 lakh
Caste-wise breakdown (approximate)
Ediga: 4.1 lakh
Lingayat: 2.5 lakh
Muslim: 2.0 lakh
Brahmin: 1.5 lakh
Vokkaliga: 1.5 lakh
OBC: 3.0 lakh
SC: 2.15 lakh
ST: 75,000
Religion-wise breakdown (Shivamogga District)
Hindu: 84.41 %
Muslim: 13.39 %
Christian: 1.51 %
Sikh: 0.02 %
Buddhist: 0.01 %
Jain: 0.53 %
Key Constituency Issues
- Infra Development: Several Union and state government schemes have contributed to progress, including those related to the Modi government’s welfare and development initiatives, such as national highways, railways, the Sigandur Bridge, airport, and Raksha University. Development work is very visible in Shivamogga in terms of industrial progress and infrastructure growth. But the rehabilitation of people affected by the Sharavathi dam remains unresolved. Few initiatives have been undertaken to create employment opportunities in the Lok Sabha constituency. This could potentially contribute to anti-incumbency.
- Communal Tensions: In Shivamogga, incidents of communal tensions between Hindu and Muslim communities are increasing, with more than 500 cases recorded annually. This has a significant impact on people’s lives. Last October, there was tension after stone pelting took place during an Eid-e-Milad procession. Stones were pelted at six houses in which six people were injured. There were also protests by Muslim residents in Ragigudda area over a cut-out of Tipu Sultan displayed by the community to mark the Eid Milad procession scheduled for the day. The police had covered a portion of the cutout, which had upset the community.
- Water scarcity: Water scarcity, like in many areas of rural and even urban Karnataka, remains a raging problem. According to government estimates, 238 villages in Shivamogga district are expected to face problems regarding drinking water supply in the future. Residents of two wards in Sorab taluk have already started relying on tankers to meet their drinking water needs. Last year, there was backlash against the state government over the Sharavathi reservoir. Farmers of Malnad are upset with the Congress government for failing to resolve issues related to grant of land to those who lost their land for the reservoir.
Key Infra Developments
- Shivamogga airport was operationalised last year, bringing much needed air connectivity to the area. PM Narendra Modi opened it, and it has been named after popular Kannada poet Kuvempu. There is politics around the airport. Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has permitted Karnataka State Industries and Infrastructure Development Corporation (KSIIDC) to conduct the operation and maintenance of this airport. It is the first airport to be operated, maintained by Karnataka government. State Infra minister MB Patil has even announced a subsidy of Rs 500 for every on-site availed ticket to travel from Shivamogga airport.
- Shivamogga Urban Development Authority (SUDA) is currently working to develop several residential layouts and has stopped issuing clearances to private layouts. State Urban Development Minster BS Suresh last October instructed officials to identify 250–300 acres of suitable land around the city and develop a layout.
- In February 2023, Prime Minister Modi laid the foundation stone and inaugurated multiple development projects worth more than Rs 3,600 crore at Shivamogga. These included the foundation stones for two railway projects in Shivamogga which include Shivamogga – Shikaripura – Ranebennur new Railway line and Koteganguru; railway coaching depot; multiple road development projects to be developed at a cumulative cost of more than Rs 215 crore; multi-village schemes worth more than Rs 950 crore under the Jal Jeevan Mission and 44 Smart City Projects worth more than Rs 895 Crores in Shivamogga city.
Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website.
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