Karnataka Lok Sabha elections: In battle between M&M, at play here is PM Modi versus nativity

KOLAR: This is a constituency of duality: If one section of

Kolar

has kept its rural image intact with farmers growing a variety of crops — tomatoes and mangoes being most popular — the other has made the district proud with a host of achievers in various fields.


Until a few years ago, the term KAS (

Karnataka Administrative Service

), was jokingly referred to as Kolar Administrative Service given the number of people from the region in the government. Kolar has also given India several IAS officers, besides judges like justice MN Venkatachaliah, who was Chief Justice of India. Its farmers send milk to the armed forces even today.

The electorate in the constituency reserved for Scheduled Caste has stood by Congress in 15 of 16 elections, notwithstanding the Left (Madiga and others) and Right (Holeyas and others) divide. Of the eight assembly segments here, Congress holds five and its ally JD(S) two. One independent is backed by Congress.

Congress has a veteran, KH Muniyappa vying to win again, while BJP has S Muniswamy, an outsider, a BBMP corporator in Kadugodi, contesting for the first time. With JD(S), which got 32.9% votes in 2014 not in fray, the fight is between Muniyappa and Muniswamy (M&M). And both have one thing in common: Their own leaders opposing them.

Muniyappa, as reported by TOI earlier, faces stiff opposition from multiple local leaders, while Muniswamy from DS Veeraiah, who had lost twice to Muniyappa in the past. Veeraiah only withdrew his nomination on Friday and will not campaign for Muniswamy. “I have to tour the state with BS Yeddyurappa, but have told workers to work for our candidate,” Veeraiah said.

Both candidates are confident of resolving the issues. Muniswamy, who studied and lives in Bengaluru, while reiterating his Kolar roots, is banking on PM Narendra Modi’s image. “Caste and other factors won’t matter as I am not the candidate, Modi is. My election will be Kolar’s gift to India as it helps bring back Modi,” he said.

Muniyappa said: “I know the pulse of the people and Kolar is the only place where the Congress has won six of the eight assembly constituencies in 2018. The people will vote for Congress.” Modi wave, he said, is a myth.

Another reason for Muniyappa’s safe sailing over the years has been the fact that he doesn’t antagonise voters from any section, while some of his counterparts have been known to attack upper caste voters through police cases and so on.