Karnataka Elections 2023: Former CM Bangarappa's sons to fight it out in Soraba

There is no friend or foe in politics. It is now applicable in the assembly election in Soraba seat, which is witnessing a high-stakes contest between sons of former Karnataka chief minister late S Bangarappa, who belong to rival parties BJP and Congress.

A rousing contest is on the cards on the Soraba seat where two brothers, who are not even on talking terms, will slug it out to inherit their father's political legacy.

Kumar Bangarappa and Madhu Bangarappa are pitted against each other in the Soraba constituency, which has remained Bangarappa's bastion for several decades. Bangarappa represented the seat from 1967 to 1994 till his election to the Lok Sabha.

While BJP candidate Kumar Bangarappa is seeking re-election from Soraba, his younger brother Madhu is contesting on a Congress ticket.

In the previous election, Kumar defeated Madhu by a small margin of 3,286 votes.

In 2018, Kumar joined the BJP, quitting Congress, while Madhu, who was with the JDS, jumped to Congress in 2021.

The battle between the two brothers has often turned nasty, as both sides leveled various allegations against each other. Kumar had hit out at his brother Madhu, saying is a one-term MLA, who won the elections on a wave of sympathy and not on his own strength.

However, in recent times, Madhu has refused to speak about the family feud.

Madhu and Kumar have been electoral opponents since 2004, even when Bangarappa was alive.

Kumar has represented Soraba four times in 1996 (bypolls), 1999, 2004, and 2018. Madhu won the seat in 2013.

The brothers have also worked in the Kannada film industry in the past, with Kumar having worked as an actor, and Madhu as an actor and producer.

Following, the fathers' footsteps, both have shifted political allegiances in the past.

Kumar was in Congress and Madhu has had his stints with the BJP, JD(S), and the Samajwadi Party.