Udupi-Chikkamagaluru: What is the secret behind the record-breaking margin?

Udupi: Of all the elections conducted in Udupi-Chikkamagaluru Lok Sabha constituency till now, BJP candidate Shobha Karandlaje has achieved victory with the highest margin of votes.

Since 1951, Udupi Lok Sabha constituency has witnessed 18 Lok Sabha elections and since Chikkamagaluru constituency separated from Hassan in 1967 has seen 12 elections till 2004. In 2014 elections, BJP won with a record vote margin of 1,81,643 votes and this record has been superseded by BJP candidate Shobha Karandlaje. She has won for the second time in the constituency which is renowned of having given Indira Gandhi a rebirth.

What is the reason behind the victory-defeat?

The powerful Modi wave has been the reason behind the victory. BJP leaders are claiming that this is the people’s reaction to the administration of the state by the JD(S)-Congress coalition government. The new voters voted with enthusiasm and the charisma of Modi is the reason behind the victory with such a huge margin.

It has now been revealed that the inner opinion in favour of Modi was strong. Although Congress was popular amongst the people in Udupi and Chikkamagaluru districts, it suffered defeat by letting JD(S) contest on its turf. It may be said that JD(S) symbol is relatively new in Udupi district. Party workers feel that if Pramod Madhwaraj had contested on Congress ticket, then he would have garnered more votes than presently achieved.

Difference of a lakh- Then and now

Congress leader Oscar Fernandes has been elected the most times from Udupi Lok Sabha constituency with 5 victories of which 3 were with margin of over a lakh votes and T A Pai has also won similarly here once. D M Puttegowda and D K Taradevi from Congress have won with a difference of a lack votes twice and once respectively. In 2014, Shobha reordered her own victory with a margin of 1,81,643 votes.

Repeated victory after 23 years

Since the continuous five time victory of Oscar Fernandes in the constituency from 1980 to 1996, no other MP has been elected from here twice. In 1998 it was I M Jayaram Shetty (BJP), 1999 – Vinaya Kumar Sorake (Congress), 2004-Manorama Madhwaraj (BJP), 2009-D V Sadananda Gowda (BJP), 2012 K Jayaprakash Hegde (Congress) and in 2014 it was Shobha Karandlaje (BJP) who was elected. Now by being reelected in 2019 as well, Shobha has become the only other MP to be reelected from here.

Continuous progress

Shobha Karandlaje achieved a lead of 20.933 votes in the first round itself, maintained the lead till the end and won by a margin of 3,49,599 votes.

Enthusiasm of youth voters

The number of voters has risen and has clearly bent towards Modi. 31,014 youth voters not only cast their franchise with enthusiasm but also worked as party workers.