The Congress party last secured a parliamentary seat in Bengaluru in 1999 with CK Jaffer Sharief serving as MP, marking a long-standing challenge for the party in the city, especially given the BJP’s stronghold on all three seats since the 2009 electoral boundaries adjustment. In a robust effort to reclaim ground, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has led an energetic two-day campaign across Bengaluru for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, rallying support for the Congress candidates, Sowmya Reddy in Bengaluru South and Mansoor Ali Khan in Bengaluru Central. Siddaramaiah highlighted Congress’s contributions to Bengaluru’s IT hub status and criticized the divisive politics of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP.
Siddaramaiah, leveraging large crowds at his roadshows, confidently stated the electorate’s readiness to reject the BJP, casting its MPs and specifically targeting Tejasvi Surya as unseasoned, alongside criticisms of other BJP representatives as ineffective. Despite the anticipation for change, skepticism remains about the potential impact of the campaign’s vigor.
The historical context underscores Congress’s struggle in Bengaluru, with a win drought since 1999 when the city was represented by Sharief. Despite efforts, including a narrow miss in 2009 and a notable candidacy by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani in 2014, the BJP has maintained dominance in Bengaluru South since 1991. In this election cycle, the Congress has put forward former MLA Sowmya Reddy, buoyed by familial and political support, to challenge the BJP’s stronghold, yet the BJP remains confident in its continued success in the constituency.
Bengaluru Central, a relatively new constituency with a history of BJP leadership since 2009, sees Congress candidate Mansoor Ali Khan aiming for victory with a significant minority electorate. Despite previous defeats, the Congress believes a shift is possible, though historical trends and the incumbent’s confidence pose challenges.
Bengaluru North, too, presents an intriguing contest with significant community representation from both major parties. The Congress hopes for internal dissent within the BJP to favor their candidate, MV Rajeev Gowda, in a context of complex local political dynamics.
Amidst these contests, the underlying concern for the Congress remains whether it can overcome the electoral adjustments that have historically favored the BJP in parliamentary elections, despite Congress’s stronger performance in assembly polls. This cyclical pattern of mutual electoral assistance between Congress MLAs and BJP MPs raises questions about the possibility of a breakthrough for the Congress in Bengaluru’s Lok Sabha constituencies this election cycle.
