BJP’s Bengaluru south stronghold: Speculations and uncertainties surround candidate selection

Bengaluru, a stronghold of the BJP for over three decades, particularly in the Bengaluru South Lok Sabha constituency, has consistently been a matter of prestige for the BJP and a significant challenge for the opposition, primarily the Congress, with the JDS playing a pivotal role.

The Congress party has been striving to reclaim its foothold in this constituency, which it lost around 32 years ago. Despite efforts involving prominent figures like former Chief Minister Gundurao’s wife Varalakshmi Gundurao, IT tycoon Nandan Nilekani, senior Congressman BK Hariprasad, former minister M. Krishnappa, and minister Krishnabaire Gowda, the Congress has struggled to gain traction.

The Congress managed to win this constituency only once in 1989 when former Chief Minister R. Gundurao secured victory against V.S. Krishnaiyar. Since then, the Congress has faced continuous defeats, making it an enduring stronghold for the BJP.

In 1991, the BJP marked its victory streak through renowned economist Prof K. Venkatagiri Gowda and has maintained its winning record ever since. Despite the Congress and Janata Dal’s persistent efforts to challenge the BJP’s dominance, there has been no breakthrough. The BJP has secured victory in seven consecutive elections, solidifying its position as a stronghold.

The unexpected passing of Ananth Kumar in November 2018, shortly before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, brought uncertainty to the BJP. Speculation surrounded the possibility of Ananth Kumar’s wife, Tejaswini Ananthakumar, receiving the ticket. However, a surprise announcement named Basavanagudi BJP MLA Ravi Subrahmanya’s brother’s son, Tejaswi Surya, as the BJP candidate.

This unexpected decision did not deter Tejaswi Surya, who went on to secure a landslide victory against Congress’s BK Hariprasad.

As elections draw near, numerous names have surfaced within the BJP for the Bengaluru South Lok Sabha constituency. While there is a growing demand to field Tejaswini this time, rumors also suggest the potential candidacy of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and External Affairs Minister Jaishankar. Despite being the incumbent MP, Tejaswi Surya’s ticket is not guaranteed, and uncertainties persist until the BJP’s official decision.

For the Congress, which typically experiments with new candidates each election, the selection process is underway. The name of former Jayanagar MLA Soumya Reddy, the daughter of Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy, has been circulating, although reports suggest her reluctance to contest.

With Congress facing a shortage of viable candidates in the south, the decision remains uncertain. It is anticipated that Soumya Reddy may eventually comply with the party’s instructions and enter the electoral fray, but only time will tell.