Karnataka polls: Athani poised for battle of turncoats

Election in Karnataka's Athani Assembly constituency has become highly interesting because the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the Opposition Congress have virtually swapped their candidates and are going in full throttle to exhibit the power of strength.

Former Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi, who switched from BJP to Congress, is contesting from Athani against Mahesh Kumthalli, who quit Congress to join BJP. The two contenders had fought the 2018 State elections from the same constituency but from opposite parties.

In the keenly contested poll, Kumthalli had defeated Savadi by a margin of nearly 3,000 votes. He was one among the 17 MLAs, who joined the BJP as part of 'Operation Lotus' and triggered the collapse of H.D. Kumaraswamy-led JDS-Congress government in 2019.

But the political ideology that once decided loyalties towards parties seemed to be a thing of the past. Later in 2019, Kumthalli joined BJP and won by a margin of over 39,000 votes against Congress candidate Gajanan Mangasuli.

Savadi's hope to contest from Athani on a BJP ticket was dashed after the saffron party denied the ticket owing to pressure tactics by Gokak BJP MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi. Reportedly, Jarkiholi lobbied for a ticket to his close associate Kumthalli from Athani and told the BJP high command that he will not contest polls if Kumthalli is not given a ticket.

Soon after BJP denied the ticket, Savadi made a quick move to join the Congress, which was eyeing to woo Lingayat's vote base against the BJP and welcomed him with open arms. More than BJP vs Congress, the Athani contest now looks like a personal battle between Savadi and Jarkiholi.

For Savadi, a prominent Lingayat leader, Athani contest will be a test of his popularity. He can influence nearly 20 constituencies in North Karnataka and also in Assembly segments bordering Maharashtra, which will give the BJP a run for its money.

On the other hand, Kumthalli, who had defected from Congress to BJP, was welcomed by the people as they elected him again in the 2019 bypoll.

Athani, which shares a border with Maharashtra, is one of the largest producers of sugar in Karnataka. Development has been on the back foot, like other constituencies in the Kittur-Karnataka region. People in this region have been demanding for better irrigation facilities and separate district status to Athani.

The Assembly segment comprises 2.20 lakh voters. Out of which, about a lakh belongs to dominant Lingayats, 40,000 Marathas, 30,000 SCs and 28,000 are from the Muslim community. With both Savadi and Kumathalli, belonging to the Lingayat community, it remains to be seen which way will the voters swing.