Channapatna: HD Kumaraswamy, CP Yogeshwara lock horns in high octane poll battle

The Channapatna constituency is set to witness a direct contest between two long-time arch-rivals former Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy and BJP leader and former tourism minister CP Yogeshwara.

Yogeshwara has been elected five times from the segment since 1999 as an independent, and also from the Congress, BJP and Samajwadi Party (SP). He faced defeat in the 2018 polls, with Kumaraswamy entering the fray in Channapatna.

Kumaraswamy had then defeated Yogeshwara by 21,530 votes.

In the 2013 polls, Yogeshwara as an SP candidate defeated Kumaraswamy's wife Anitha Kumaraswamy of JD(S) by 6,464 votes.

Both Kumaraswamy and Yogeshwara had links to the film industry. While Kumaraswamy had been a film producer, distributor and exhibitor, Yogeshwara had acted in a few films.

Most of the voters in the segment that PTI spoke to seemed as though they were not willing to openly express their choice, as they maintained, there is a "tight fight" between Kumaraswamy and Yogeshwara.

Some sounded confused between the two, who enjoy a lot of goodwill among the people. While Yogeshwara is popular as a local and is hugely credited in the segment for his developmental works like irrigation, filling up of lakes and tanks; the people here also don't want to lose an opportunity of electing Kumaraswamy, the "future Chief Minister" as their candidate.

Kumaraswamy, on getting elected from Channapatna and Ramanagara in 2018, retained Channapatna; he then went on to head the JD(S)-Congress coalition government as the Chief Minister for about 14 months. Raghu, a silk farmer who was at the silk market in Channapatna said, either of them -- Kumaraswamy or Yogeshwara -- can win, and it will be 16,000-odd undecided voters, who will be holding the key. "Both of them have about 58,000-60,000 votes each, and it is the fence-sitters who will decide this election," he said, adding that if the Congress gets more votes, it will damage Yogeshwara's prospects. Kempegowda, a senior citizen in Dodda Mallur known for its Aprameya Swamy temple, favoured Yogeshwara, as he is from Channapatna.

"Yogeshwara got water to our tanks. Kumaraswamy did not come and meet us even once here," he said, as he relaxed on his easy chair trying to beat the heat on a hot afternoon.

Sixty-year old Nanjunda, who owns a shop near the temple, says, "it is Yogeshwara more than BJP here. People vote for Yogeshwara not the party here. Kumaraswamy of JD(S) has also done things like farm loan waiver, when he was CM. Congress is not here..."

It is quite evident on the ground that voters relate to the BJP here, more because Yogeshwara is its candidate.

There is considerable Muslim population in Channapatna, who according to local political observers may consolidate in favour of Kumaraswamy, as the Congress is comparatively not strong here, despite it coming under the home district of KPCC President D K Shivakumar. Many blame alleged "internal understanding" between Kumaraswamy and Shivakumar for the Congress' situation in the segment.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi too campaigned for BJP recently in the segment.

with PTI inputs