Lok Sabha Elections Phase 2: Key Constituencies Going to Polls in Karnataka
The second phase of the 18th Lok Sabha elections will take place on April 26. In Karnataka, six Lok Sabha constituencies – Bangalore Rural, Bangalore North, Bangalore Central, Bangalore South, Mandya, and Mysore – will go to polls in this phase.
One of the key constituencies to watch in Karnataka is Bangalore Rural, where sitting MP and Congress leader DK Suresh will face off against BJP’s Cholenahalli Nanjappa Manjunath, a renowned cardiologist and the son-in-law of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda.
Another key constituency is Bangalore North, where BJP leader Sadananda Gowda has been representing the constituency since 2014. However, this time, the BJP has gone with Shobha Karandlaje, the Minister of State for Food Processing Industries. She will contest against the Congress party’s MV Rajeev Gowda, a noted academician and politician.
The Bangalore Central Lok Sabha constituency has been the BJP’s stronghold since its creation in 2008. PC Mohan has won the elections thrice from the seat. The BJP has placed its trust on PC Mohan once again. He will take on the Congress party’s Mansoor Ali Khan.
Bengaluru South has been BJP’s fiefdom since 1996. Before his death, Ananth Kumar remained the party’s MP for 28 years. In 2019, young politician Tejasvi Surya became the MP from the constituency. The Congress has fielded Sowmya Reddy against Surya.
Mandya is another high-profile constituency going to polls in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections. JD(S) leader and former Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy will contest against Congress’s Star Chandru.
Finally, the Mysore constituency will see a contest between BJP’s Pratap Simha, who represented the constituency from 2014 to 2024, and Congress’s M Lakshman. The BJP has fielded Yaduveer Wadiyar, a member of the erstwhile royal family of Mysore and the titular Maharaja of Mysore, against Lakshman.
The outcome of the elections in these six constituencies will have a significant impact on the overall results in Karnataka. The BJP is hoping to retain its dominance in the state, while the Congress is looking to make gains and regain its lost ground.
