Bypolls in Davangere South and Bagalkot could witness intense battle

The Karnataka government has announced byelections to the Davangere South and Bagalkot Assembly constituencies on April 9. These seats, currently held by the ruling Congress, are expected to be fiercely contested by the opposition BJP. The counting of votes will take place on May 4th. The byelections were necessitated due to the deaths of former Ministers Shamanur Shivashankarappa and H.Y. Meti. The announcement comes amidst the Budget session, which ends on March 27th. Both the ruling party and the opposition have a week to finalize their candidates before the nomination deadline on March 23rd. The byelection is significant for both parties as it offers an opportunity to gain ground in the state's political landscape. The Congress is facing internal challenges with leadership uncertainty between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. The ruling party is also grappling with issues of internal reservation among Scheduled Castes and reduction of reservation for Scheduled Tribes. Meanwhile, the BJP aims to leverage public dissatisfaction over alleged lack of development and government policies, positioning the byelections as a vote against the current dispensation. Both constituencies have seen shifting fortunes in recent years. In Bagalkot, the BJP has won four out of six elections since 1999. The late H.Y. Meti, a former minister and five-time legislator, had previously won from Guledgudda. In Davangere South, a newly formed constituency after delimitation in 2008, the late Shamanur Shivaranakappa won all four elections since then. The Congress is facing internal challenges in selecting a candidate for Davangere South, with family members of the deceased leader vying for the ticket. The party's leadership will need to navigate these tensions while also considering the wishes of Muslim leaders who are pushing for a Muslim candidate in the constituency.