In battle of prestige at Badami, how do the numbers add up

With Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah and BJP strongman B Sriramulu filing their nominations from Badami, the contest has become an interesting one. Both the leaders would go all out to ensure a victory and it has now become a battle of prestige.

The lead up to the filing of the nominations was a grand one with both leaders put up a show of strength. Siddaramaiah was in fact accorded a traditional welcome by people who came in at least a 100 bullock carts.

After Siddaramaiah filed his nomination papers, he said that he is confident that he would win by 25,000 votes. Sriramulu, on the other hand, said that he had only a single point agenda and that was to win the elections and make Yeddyurappa the Chief Minister of Karnataka.

In this constituency the votes of the Kuruba community which Siddaramaiah belongs is crucial. Sriramulu too would be banking on the Kuruba votes to win the seat.

The BJP has won Badami in both 2004 and 2008. However, in 2013, it was Congress candidate, B B Chimmankatti who won the elections from here. The constituency has a total of 2.14 lakh voters of which 50,000 are Kurubas. The Veerashaivas and Lingayat community is approximately 60,000 in nature.