How Will Vokkaliga Voters Influence Bengaluru Rural Elections?

In the second phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections in Karnataka, voting will take place on April 26 and May 7. This phase will witness a high-stakes battle between Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar's brother, DK Suresh, and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda's son-in-law, CN Majunath, for the Bengaluru Rural constituency.

Bengaluru South, a Congress stronghold since 2013, will see a tough battle between influential Vokkaliga families.

Congress' DK Suresh, the incumbent MP, will face BJP's CN Manjunath, a renowned cardiologist and son-in-law of former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, for the Bengaluru Rural seat.

Bengaluru Rural

Bengaluru Rural, covering parts of Ramanagara, Bangalore Urban, and Tumakuru districts, is predominantly rural, with 80% of its area classified as such. However, it also features IT parks and industrial hubs, reflecting pockets of urbanisation.

The constituency's electorate is diverse, with approximately 70% Vokkaligas and 15% Muslims, creating a complex political landscape.

Past Elections in Bengaluru Rural

In 2009, post-delimitation, the Bangalore Rural seat was won by H D Kumaraswamy. DK Suresh won a bypoll in 2013 and retained the seat in 2014 and 2019 with over 44% and 54% vote share, respectively.

In the 2023 Karnataka Assembly polls, Congress candidate Iqbal Hussain defeated Kumaraswamy's son Nikhil in the Ramanagara segment, previously held by the JD(S) since 2004.

Vokkaliga Community Dynamics

Traditionally supporting the JD(S), the Vokkaligas are now showing inclinations towards the Congress, challenging the BJP's traditional Lingayat support. With the BJP-JD(S) alliance, the BJP aims to sway Vokkaliga votes, potentially altering Karnataka's political scenario.

On April 26, Udupi Chikmagalur, Hassan, Dakshina Kannada, Chitradurga, Tumkur, Mandya, Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, Bengaluru Rural, Bengaluru North, Bengaluru Central, Bengaluru South, Chikkballapur, and Kolar will vote in the second phase of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024.