The Karnataka Congress has recently announced former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar as one of the three candidates for the upcoming bypolls to three legislative council seats in the state. Shettar, who recently switched to the Congress party from BJP, lost in the assembly election to BJP’s Mahesh Tenginkai from Hubballi-Dharwad Central constituency by a margin of 34,000 votes.
The other two candidates named by the Congress are Tippannappa Kamaknoor and NS Boseraju, who is already a minister in the Siddaramaiah-led cabinet in Karnataka. The BJP, however, has not yet announced their candidates for the by-election.
The bypolls have been necessitated following the resignation of three BJP members, Laxman Savadi, Baburao Chinchansur and R Shankar before the May 10 assembly elections in Karnataka.
The upcoming bypolls are crucial for both Congress and BJP as it could determine their stability in the state in the run-up to the 2023 assembly election. It is still unclear who will come out on top, but the political climate in Karnataka suggests a close contest.
According to political analysts, Shettar’s candidature could provide a substantial boost to Congress party’s prospects in the upcoming bypolls. However, the BJP is expected to put up a tough fight as they are eager to prove their dominance in the state.
The upcoming bypolls will be closely watched not only in Karnataka, but across the country as it could be seen as a prelude to the 2023 assembly election. The Congress is hoping to gain some much-needed momentum, while the BJP is desperate to retain power in the state.
The bypolls are scheduled for June 30th, and the results will be announced soon after the polling ends. It remains to be seen who will emerge victorious, but one thing is for sure – the political landscape in Karnataka is set to undergo a major shift.
