New Delhi/Bangalore,
Apr 2: All elections produce heroes and villains. In the run up to the
2018 big battle for corridors of power in Karnataka, the swamijis, yogis and
godmen may enter electoral fray to reduce reining political stalwarts to fading
players in their own courtyard.
Unlike past, when the electoral war-cry used to be confined
between established political war heroes and at best silver screen stars, there is almost a new scenario this time
with both the Congress and the BJP trying to not only win over the 'blessings'
of pontiffs but also are more than keen to field them directly in the electoral
fray.
To start, the BJP feels it can give tough fight to at least a few incumbent Karnataka ministers like Social Welfare minister H Anjaneya from Chitradurga and Labour Minister Santosh Lad from Kalaghatagi constituency.
The saffron party, sources said, is seriously considering the candidature of Chennaiah Swamiji of the Madara Chennaiah Mutt from Chitradurga and is expected to give a tough fight to the state Social Welfare minister H Anjaneya, who is an influential leader of the Madiga community and was once a treasurer of the Mutt.
Underlining the importance this brand of yogis and priests taking it to the electoral contest, BJP chief Amit Shah during his visit to Karnataka did meet Chennaiah Swamiji.
Swamiji belongs to the Madigas - a low caste group - who are already aggrieved with the Congress regime for not granting "internal share in reservation" amongst the Scheduled Caste quota and thus there are ample chance that this Mutt takes a right wing leaning.
The Congress is reportedly trying to field a yogi or a religious leader from Athani in Belagavi district - a Hindutva stronghold, which returned Lakshman Sangappa Savadi of BJP in 2013 despite strong "anti-BJP mood" in the region.
In Kalaghatagi constituency against the incumbent Labour Minister Santosh Lad, the BJP may try to field Basavananda Swami, who is just 40 and has lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the past.
Among the villains or heroes for this year's assembly polls would also include old war horse - senior Congress leader Jaffer Sharief, who has ventilated his disapproval to the 'divide Lingayat card' of his party and called it a mere "political stunt".
Among the Muslims leaders, however, all eyes will be on community leaders and sitting MLAs like Iqbal Ansari and Zameer Ahmed Khan - who quit JD(S) of H D Deve Gowada and H D Kumaraswamy - and joined Congress in presence of none other than Rahul Gandhi.
In an attempt to judge the political situation, it can be stated here the declining power base of JD(S) among Muslims will be crucial as the minority community "lost faith" in Kumaraswamy once he allied with BJP from 2006 and 2007.
On the other hand Mr Kumaraswamy also earned a negative tag of being a 'bachan brashta" leader (someone who did not keep his words) when he had declined to "transfer power to B S Yeddyurappa" after he formed the government with the BJP support.
In fact, Mr Rahul Gandhi has already called JD(S) "B team of BJP" - a remark that has ultimately provoked even the likes of Mamata Banerjee to advise both the JD(S) and the Congress to settle their disputes and join hands in a purposeful manner to ensure defeat of the BJP.
Once the people's verdict is delivered, in the ultimate all eyes will be on how some promising stars are forced to simply resign to their cocoons and how some galaxy of political heavyweights and yogis get the opportunity to resort to political muscle flexing. UNI
To start, the BJP feels it can give tough fight to at least a few incumbent Karnataka ministers like Social Welfare minister H Anjaneya from Chitradurga and Labour Minister Santosh Lad from Kalaghatagi constituency.
The saffron party, sources said, is seriously considering the candidature of Chennaiah Swamiji of the Madara Chennaiah Mutt from Chitradurga and is expected to give a tough fight to the state Social Welfare minister H Anjaneya, who is an influential leader of the Madiga community and was once a treasurer of the Mutt.
Underlining the importance this brand of yogis and priests taking it to the electoral contest, BJP chief Amit Shah during his visit to Karnataka did meet Chennaiah Swamiji.
Swamiji belongs to the Madigas - a low caste group - who are already aggrieved with the Congress regime for not granting "internal share in reservation" amongst the Scheduled Caste quota and thus there are ample chance that this Mutt takes a right wing leaning.
The Congress is reportedly trying to field a yogi or a religious leader from Athani in Belagavi district - a Hindutva stronghold, which returned Lakshman Sangappa Savadi of BJP in 2013 despite strong "anti-BJP mood" in the region.
In Kalaghatagi constituency against the incumbent Labour Minister Santosh Lad, the BJP may try to field Basavananda Swami, who is just 40 and has lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the past.
Among the villains or heroes for this year's assembly polls would also include old war horse - senior Congress leader Jaffer Sharief, who has ventilated his disapproval to the 'divide Lingayat card' of his party and called it a mere "political stunt".
Among the Muslims leaders, however, all eyes will be on community leaders and sitting MLAs like Iqbal Ansari and Zameer Ahmed Khan - who quit JD(S) of H D Deve Gowada and H D Kumaraswamy - and joined Congress in presence of none other than Rahul Gandhi.
In an attempt to judge the political situation, it can be stated here the declining power base of JD(S) among Muslims will be crucial as the minority community "lost faith" in Kumaraswamy once he allied with BJP from 2006 and 2007.
On the other hand Mr Kumaraswamy also earned a negative tag of being a 'bachan brashta" leader (someone who did not keep his words) when he had declined to "transfer power to B S Yeddyurappa" after he formed the government with the BJP support.
In fact, Mr Rahul Gandhi has already called JD(S) "B team of BJP" - a remark that has ultimately provoked even the likes of Mamata Banerjee to advise both the JD(S) and the Congress to settle their disputes and join hands in a purposeful manner to ensure defeat of the BJP.
Once the people's verdict is delivered, in the ultimate all eyes will be on how some promising stars are forced to simply resign to their cocoons and how some galaxy of political heavyweights and yogis get the opportunity to resort to political muscle flexing. UNI
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