Electioneering has reached its crescendo in Karnataka, going to polls in two phases on April 23 and April 30, with national and local leaders of political parties criss crossing the 28 Lok Sabha constituencies, braving the soaring summer heat.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi, whose party is leaving no stones unturned to revive its flagging fortunes in the state, has already addressed two rallies in Karnataka. Her son and AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi had also addressed a couple of meetings in the state.
For the ruling BJP, its prime ministerial candidate L K Advani and firebrand leader and Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi have spearheaded the campaigning in the state. Former prime minister H D Deve Gowda and his son H D Kumaraswamy are the star campaigners for JDS, which is contesting 23 seats making it a triangular contest.
BJP, which formed its first ever government in the south after 2008 assembly polls, has higher stakes than any other political outfit as it looks to stretch its winning streak.
In 2004 Lok Sabha polls, BJP, riding on “India Shining” slogan came up with a stunning performance, grabbing 18 seats, leaving eight to Congress and just two to JDS. In its attempt to further its base and strength, BJP poached on leaders from Congress and JDS under “Operation Lotus” and even awarded tickets to some of them, a move that set off a wave of protests among its partymen.
Congress leaders like D B Chandregowda, C P Yogeshwar and L R Shivaramgowda, who joined the BJP in the last minute, were lucky to get nominated from Bangalore North, Bangalore South and Mandya constituencies respectively.