Anil Urs
As battle lines are drawn for by-elections in three Lok Sabha constituencies in Karnataka, it is the first litmus test for Janata Dal Secular-Congress coalition.All eyes are on Shimoga and Bellary Lok Sabha seats.
While the JDS-Cong coalition will have to work together to wrest Shimoga and Bellary from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Mandya seat is set to go the JD(S) for it is reigning supreme in the district. The Congress withdrew from the BJP-held Shimoga and offered the seat to its partner JD(S).
The battle of three
Children of three former chief ministers — BS Yedurappa’s son BY Raghavendra, S Bangarappa’s son Madhu Bangarappa, and JH Patel’s son Mahima Patel will compete for the Shimoga constituency. The JDS-Cong coalition failed to secure a majority in Shimoga district in the recently concluded Assembly elections. But the party has a good presence in the constituency.
Bellary
In Bellary (a Scheduled Tribe constituency), the Congress has fielded its candidate — VS Ugrappa — with JD(S)’ support. He will take on BJP’s J Shanta.
Mandya
In Mandya constituency, JDS secured all the eight seats in the Assembly election. A repeat is on the cards for the LS seat as JDS has fielded two-time MLA — LR Shivaramegowda to on Siddaramegowda of the BJP.
Assembly by-polls
The State will also witness two bye-elections for Karnataka Legislative Assembly seats — Ramanagaram (in old Mysuru region) and Jamkhandi (in north Karnataka).