In Karnataka’s Shimoga District, Old Warhorses Walk Into the Sunset as 2023 Polls Mark Generational Shift

BY Vijayendra, the more youthful son of BS Yediyurappa, filed his nomination from Shikaripura on Wednesday, marking a generational shift in Karnataka politics, specially in his homeland Shimoga. The constituency became held through Yediyurappa for forty years, besides 1999-2004. During 2014-18, his elder son BY Raghavendra became Shikaripura MLA whilst BSY went to New Delhi as an MP from Shimoga. BSY has contested from Shikaripura in each election, 9 instances considering 1983.

Shimoga, one of the political hotspots of Karnataka, is witnessing a generational extrade throughout events and district. A rich Western Ghats district, Shimoga has usually been the political nerve centre of Karnataka, generating 4 leader ministers and dozens of different essential figures in addition to public movements.

In neighbouring Shimoga City meeting constituency, any other celebration antique horse KS Eshwarappa has declared retirement from electoral politics like his one-time benefactor Yediyurappa. Eshwarappa has been Shimoga MLA considering 1989. He misplaced twice (1999 and 2013) however has contested in each meeting election considering 1989. Unlike BSY, Eshwarappa didn’t stable a BJP nomination for his son Kantesh from Shimoga City and the celebration fielded a Lingayat, Channabasappa.

In hilly Sagara, Congress stalwart 90-year-antique Kagodu Thimmappa has additionally retired from electoral politics, paving the manner for more youthful generations. Thimmappa has fought 12 meeting elections considering 1962 and became an MLA among 1972 and 2018. Despite his efforts to stable the celebration`s nomination for his daughter Dr Rajanandini Kagodu, the Congress price price tag has long gone to his nephew Belur Gopalakrishna who defected from BJP to Congress in 2018.

In Soraba, sons of past due S Bangarappa — Kumar and Madhu — are going through every different yet again on Congress and BJP tickets. With the sundown of stalwarts, the meeting elections of 2023 have misplaced their attraction for the human beings of Shimoga district. The furnishings Kagodu Thimmappa, Yediyurappa and Eshwarappa have walked into the sundown, permitting the subsequent technology to take over.

In Shikaripura, Vijayendra`s win seems a foregone end due to a susceptible candidate fielded through the Congress. Despite the nearby Lingayat chief`s opposition, Congress has yet again nominated a Kuruba, Goni Malatesh, towards him. In 2018, he misplaced to BSY through over 30,000 votes.

Congress price price tag aspirant and Lingayat chief Nagaraja Gouda has attacked the kingdom Congress management, alleging a “deal” among BSY and the celebration brass in Bengaluru.

Speaking to News18, he stated: “If the Congress had fielded me, I could have defeated Vijayendra. To make certain no department of Lingayat votes, Congress management in Bengaluru has clinched a mystery cope with BSY. That`s why they have got fielded a Kuruba yet again.” Gouda is contesting as an Independent candidate with the assist of JDS.

In Shimoga City, BJP has fielded Channabasappa, a Hindutva chief many of the Lingayats. He had as soon as threatened to cut off the top of Siddaramaiah, triggering a large controversy. The Congress has fielded a younger Lingayat, HC Yogish, hoping to get all Muslim votes and a large chew of Lingayat votes.

Veteran BJP chief Ayanur Manjunath has give up as an MLC to contest as a BJP rise up on JDS price price tag, making it a conflict of Lingayats. In Sagara, BJP`s MLA Haratalu Halappa is going through a resurgent Congress in but any other keenly contested election. Meanwhile, in Thirthahalli, antique competitors Kimmane Ratnakar of Congress and domestic minister Araga Jnanendra of BJP had been combating yet again.

In loss of life commercial city Bhadravathi, Congress MLA BK Sangamesh is taking up Sharada Appaji Gowda, the widow of his antique rival Appaji Gowda of JDS. Strangely, Shimoga is the birthplace of socialism in Karnataka, farmers` motion in India, and a stronghold of Congress and BJP in addition to RSS.

RSS widespread secretary Dattatreya Hosabale hails from Hosabale village in Shimoga district. BJP`s effective widespread secretary – enterprise BL Santhosh became additionally published as an RSS full-timer in Shimoga for 14 years. JDS kingdom president CM Ibrahim hails from Bhadravathi. Whoever may win or lose, Shimoga politics will by no means be the equal with out the antique warhorses who’ve stated good-bye to elections.