The BJP has enhanced the stand-off between Congress’ misleads and the Modi factor, with a focus on the Neha Hiremath murder case in Hubballi. Through this, the BJP intends to substantiate the charge of the ‘appeasement politics’ of Congress.
Emotions pertaining to the murder have added to the momentum garnered by the sitting MP Pralhad Joshi in his attempt to term for the fifth time from the Dharwad constituency.
In a clear-cut face-off, the Union Minister who represents Navalgund in the Lok Sabha, performing his first election ever, is up against Vinod Asuti, a first-timer and a Congress Party nominee. The Asuti’s campaign was greatly confirmed when Dingaleshwar Swami, who was previously running as an independent candidate, stepped out from the contest and took her party’s endorsement.
The swami has accused Joshi of suppressing Lingayat leaders, potentially swaying Veerashaiva-Lingayat support towards Congress, despite the community’s historical allegiance to BJP.
Historically a BJP stronghold since 1996, the Dharwad constituency, predominantly comprising Veerashaiva-Lingayats, has elected only three MPs from this community in the last 17 elections, notably Vijay Sankeshwar of BJP.
Following delimitation in 2008, the Dharwad North seat transitioned into the Dharwad constituency. In this decision Congress, the Lingayat community is deprived of its rights after a quarter-century of their nomination, while the Kuruba person has been nominated.
The BJP, alongside the Hindu organizations, are now harnessing the Ram temple’s inauguration to appeal to the religious sentiments of the people and win voters over.
Though Joshi’s speeches project that Congress is ‘anti-Hindu’, his campaign is not banked on developmental initiatives alone, but also on the Hidutva and Modi factors, fuelling Bomb’s allegations.
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