BJP Hassan, Mandya units uneasy about seat sharing

NT Correspondent

Mandya / Hassan: Discontent has emerged within the BJP district units of Hassan and Mandya over their alliance with the JD(S).

There is a push to field BJP candidates in both Lok Sabha constituencies, despite it being nearly certain that the two seats may go to the alliance partner JD(S).

Both seats come under the Old Mysuru Vokkaliga heartland, the region where JD(S) retains a presence. JD(S) leader Prajwal Revanna is the sitting MP from Hassan.

Meanwhile Mandya is represented by BJP-backed independent Sumalatha Ambareesh.

Prajwal is tipped to retain the chance to defend his seat while JD(S) state president HD Kumarswamy may be fielded from Mandya. JD(S) may get up to four seats and the BJP might contest from the remaining 28 Lok Sabha constituencies.

The fear is that if the local saffron party leaders and workers are miffed with the two seats going to the JD(S), there may not be a seamless transfer of votes between the alliance partners, leading to possible losses.

Strength of candidates will also play a role. Former BJP MLA Preetham Gowda had tried to reassure party workers in a public speech on Monday.

“Janata Dal Secular, which has entered into an alliance with us, be it Mandya or Hassan or any other seat, we, the leaders sitting on the platform will take your (BJP workers’) suggestion and bring it to the attention of the relevant people. Our candidates will be decided thereafter. I promise you that it won’t be decided just like that,” he said.

Preetham has in the past suggested that a BJP candidate should replace Prajwal.

Preetham had contested against Prajwal from the Hassan seat in the 2019 general elections and lost.

On the other hand, JD(S) patriarch HD Deve Gowda has gone on record to state that Prajwal will retain the Hassan pocket borough. Meanwhile, many local BJP leaders want to back Sumalatha Ambareesh’s candidacy.

BJP minister KC Narayanagowda had publically demanded that Sumalatha be supported by the saffron party again. However, coalition dharma might force the BJP to concede the seat to the JD(S).

ZP, TP poll uncertainty

Another issue that the local Mandya and Hassan district BJP leaders aren’t happy about is potentially missing out on the chance to contest and win seats in the Taluk Panchayat and Zilla Panchayat elections if they have to defer to the JD(S) candidates in a possible alliance.

Lastly, BJP workers feel that JD(S) has more to gain from the alliance since the regional party has been facing an existential crisis.

In principle, the transfer of votes from the BJP to the JD(S) would keep the latter afloat in the general elections, an arena wherein regional outfits are at a disadvantage.

BJP on the other hand hopes that JD(S) will simply hand them their Vokkaliga support base. The saffron party is considered weak in old Mysuru and Vokkaliga support is key to gaining traction in the region.