Raichur, an epicentre for election rallies
- Raichur, which has been a traditional Congress bastion, has gained popularity among the BJP and JD(S) too
- Parties hope to enhance their presence among the backward castes, which will be the swing factor in determining their performance in the upcoming elections
- Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi to address a massive rally in Raichur end of July, or first week of August
FollowCome elections, and all three political parties make a beeline to the North Karnataka districts to kickstart election rallies. This time too, the parties have charted out a series of the rallies and public meetings in Northern Karnataka, especially the six Hyderabad Karnataka districts. Among these districts, Raichur has emerged as a favourite, for multiple reasons.
Historically, Raichur has been Congress’s mainstay, and remains a favourite even to this day. Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi had in fact addressed a massive election rally in the district during the 2014 Parliament elections. His mother and AICC president Sonia Gandhi had launched the Stree Shakti programme and the Rajiv Gandhi Memorial hospital in Raichur during the S M Krishna tenure in 2000.
She had also addressed a rally in the district during the 2004 Assembly elections. The party had however failed to obtain a majority, and it was forced to enter into an alliance with the JD(S) to form a government then. The Congress, during the S M Krishna regime had also chosen to launch its ambitious midday meal project in the district (Devadurga taluk).
The State Congress leaders who hope to cash in on the “successful” implementation of Article 371 (J) in Hyderabad-Karnataka, have now planned a massive convention in Raichur, where they want the junior Gandhi to address a gathering comprising the beneficiaries from all the six districts - Ballari, Bidar, Kalaburgi, Koppal, Raichur and Yadgir. The convention will be held either by end of July or in the first week of August.
Article 371 (J) was created by the UPA government in the year 2013. The grant of the special status had coincided with Congress coming to power in Karnataka in the same year. While Rs 3,750 crore was sanctioned by the government between 2013 and 2016, the State government has set aside Rs 1,500 crore for the development of the region during 2017-18. The party is presently preparing a list of beneficiaries, who will be invited to participate in the convention.
Despite being merged into the Indian Union in 1956, the districts have remained backward, both socially and economically. They had largely remained under Congress’s control until 1983.This is solely because the districts comprise a large chunk of the SC/ST and OBC communities, which have traditionally been the party’s vote bank.
Raichur, stands out because it is home to a combination of all dominant communities, including the Lingayats.
Of the seven Assembly constituencies in Raichur, four of them are ST reserved constituencies, while one is an SC reserved constituency. The Raichur Lok Sabha constituency is also reserved for candidates belonging to the ST community. In the 2013 elections, the party had managed to garner four out of the seven Assembly seats. The Parliamentary seat too rests with the Congress.
Before the Rahul Gandhi rally, the party is hosting a District Congress Committee workers meeting in Lingasugur on July 13, after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah lays the foundation stone for the Nandavadige lift irrigation project in the taluk.
The BJP, which has made inroads into all North Karnataka districts, however does not have complete control over Hyderabad-Karnataka.
Hoping to reverse the trend, the party is making concerted efforts to consolidate the SC/ST and OBC votes in the region. It is interesting to note that the saffron party too had chosen Raichur to host one of the largest Scheduled Tribe rallies in 2016.
Recently too, the Sangolli Rayanna Brigade under the leadership of party leader K S Eshwarappa wanted to hold its convention in the district for the same reasons. Eshwarappa, who had raised a banner of revolt against party president B S Yeddyurappa, had however cancelled the meet in Raichur after he was made to toe the party line.
The JD(S), which has a strong base in Vokkaliga dominated Cauvery basin, however lacks base in the Hyderabad-Karnataka region. The party, which has less than a handful of seats in North Karnataka, interestingly enjoys two seats in Raichur presently.
The regional party too is planning to host a public meeting in the district in the coming days. The party feels that the people of the district are still grateful to JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda for implementing the irrigation projects in the region.
