Karnataka assembly polls: In KR Puram, Congress out to regain stronghold as ministry windfall elusive

A tough fight is brewing in KR Puram constituency between BJP and Congress. Most locals say it won't be an easy task for sitting MLA and urban development minister BA Basavaraj, popular as Byrathi Basavaraj, compared to the byelection in 2019 when he polled 85% more votes than his Congress rival.
Basavaraj's stronghold is Horamavu ward, which has more than one lakh votes.He is also popular in other parts of the constituency. But in some parts, BJP's loyal workers are a threat as they are unhappy with him for allegedly neglecting them after becoming a minister.

Congress is trying hard to regain KR Puram by fielding DK Mohan, chairman of Cambridge Group of Institutions and a familiar face in the constituency. Mohan was president of KR Puram town municipal corporation before its merger with Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike.
Basavaraj had wrested the seat from BJP's NS Nandiesha Reddy in 2013, winning by a margin of 24,000 votes. The margin increased to 33,000 against the same rival in 2018. Basavaraj contested on BJP ticket in the 2019 bypoll and won by 63,433 votes.
According to Muniraju of Devasandra, Basavaraj's bypoll victory happened in different circumstances. When Basavaraj shifted to BJP in 2019, Reddy and his supporters accepted it in the party's interest. Basavaraj's staunch supporters from Congress also worked for him. Others voted for him as they knew he would become a minister if he won, potentially helping the constituency. "Today's scenario is different. Besides roads and skywalks, Basavaraj has not done much. It cannot be taken for granted that Basavaraj will win," said Ramachandra, a KR Puram resident.
Muniraju said land mafia and rowdyism are the main problems for middle-class residents in the constituency. Police act on behalf of local politicians, which must end in public interest, he opined.
Nanjamariyappa, an advocate, said Basavaraj has developed roads and brought Cauvery water to the constituency but has failed to bring permanent projects. "But he knows the pulse of his voters. Easy accessibility alone has gained him their confidence," Nanjamariyappa admitted.
Basavaraj said he would win this time with a bigger margin as people know his good work. "I've got a 100 bed-hospital for the constituency. Work is about to begin on a court complex. Revamp of KR Puram market was held up by a court case. I have developed lakes and parks," he said.
Mohan, though, believes KR Puram is Congress' traditional stronghold. Reddy's victory for BJP in 2008 was an odd one, he added. "Basavaraj won the bypoll only because the voters wanted to see their MLA become minister. This time, people are more bothered about drinking water and rajakaluve issues...Basavaraj has failed to address them," he said.
JD(S), which had decided to back CPI(M) for the seat, got C Venkatachalapathi from OMBR Layout to contest at the last moment. The constituency has over 60,000 Vokkaliga, 25,000 Kuruba, 10,000 Golla, 25,000 Christian and 40,000 Muslim votes. Some locals wondered why JD(S)' campaign has been lacklustre. "Many Vokkaligas here are from Kolar, which is a JD(S) stronghold. Yet the party lacks visibility," a resident said.