Karnataka polls: How parties are fielding strong candidates to pin down opponents

When Karnataka goes to the polls on May 10, it will seal the fate of stalwarts across party lines who have been locked in tough contests.

Raising the stakes for the May 10 assembly elections, the ruling BJP pitted senior Minister R Ashoka against Shivakumar in Kanakapura, while V Somanna would take on Siddaramaiah in the Varuna Assembly segment.

Somanna, a prominent Lingayat community leader enjoys a good rapport with the mutts and he would hope that this would work in his favour in Varuna.

In the case of Shivakumar, the Kanakapura seat has always been a cakewalk for him. With the entry of Ashoka, who like Shivakumar hails from the Vokkaliga community, the battle would be an interesting one.

With this, the BJP aimed at ensuring that both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar are tied down to their respective segments to the extent possible so that their campaigning and strategising in other constituencies for Congress' victory would be limited.

Likewise, the Congress is now mulling to field former minister Vinay Kulkarni from Shiggaon in Haveri, a segment currently represented by chief minister Basavaraj Bommai.

Reportedly, Ajjampeer Khadri, who had contested unsuccessfully contested the seat against Bommai since 2008 is ready to make way for Kulakarni's candidature.

According to two-pre-poll surveys conducted by the party, Congress has a good chance of upsetting Bommai if it fields a formidable candidate, from the Lingayat community.

Notably, Panchamasali Lingayats, Muslims, and Kurubas in the constituency have openly expressed anger against the Bommai government.

Meanwhile, DK Shivakumar has said that there is pressure within the party that his brother and Bangalore Rural MP DK Suresh must contest against BJP's R Ashoka at Padmanabhanagar.

This could be Congress's plan to tie down Ashoka at Padmanabhanagar, just like BJP came out with a strategy to limit DK Shivakumar to Kanakapura.

In Kolar, the second seat from where Siddaramaiah is planning to contest, BJP has fielded Varthur Prakash, who has won twice from the segment as an independent.

Former Minister C P Yogeshwar from BJP would once again cross swords with Janata Dal (Secular) leader and former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy in Channapatna.

Karnataka will go to polls on May 10 and results will be announced on May 13.