Analysis of Sidlaghatta AC - Next Steps

142 - Sidlaghatta (GEN)

PC Name Kolar District Name Chikkaballapur
S Muniswamy V.Muniyappa
MP Name MLA Name
(47, SC Left (Madiga), BJP) (75, Vokkaliga, INC)

Election Winner Runner-Up Runner-Up 2

V. Muniyappa B. N. Ravikumar Anjinappa (Puttu)
2018 (INC, Vokkaliga) (JDS, Vokkaliga) (IND, Vokkaliga)
76240 (45.97%) 66531 (40.12%) 10986 (6.62%)

M. Rajanna V. Muniyappa D. R. Shivakumar Gowda

2013 (JDS, Vokkaliga) (INC, Vokkaliga) (KJP, Vokkaliga)
77,931 (50.69%) 62,452 (40.62%) 5,838 (3.8%)

V. Muniyappa M. Rajanna Swethaja Lokesh

2008 (INC, Vokkaliga) (JDS, Vokkaliga) (BJP, Vokkaliga)
65939 (49.95%) 59437 (45.03%) 2713 (2.06%)

Top 5 castes
Name Population (%) Party Inclinations
Vokkaliga 20-25% Split between INC and JD(S)
Muslim 14-16% INC

Madiga (SC left) 10-12% INC

Nayaka (ST) 6-9% Split between INC and JD(S)

Adi- Karnataka, (SC right) 5-8% Split between INC and JD(S)

Current Scenario:
● The sitting MLA V. Muniyappa from INC has been elected from this seat 6 times and was first elected in
1983. He is facing a huge anti-incumbency sentiment in the AC due to his inactivity during and after the
COVID outbreak. Also, he was twice Minister earlier but couldn't bring in any industries or development to
the AC to generate employment, which is a major issue in the AC. Due to this the women and youth are
extremely unhappy.
● The INC camp has been divided into several factions between the supporters of the incumbent MLA V.
Muniyappa, and ticket aspirants Rajeev Gowda, and Anjinappa (Puttu). The latter two have been actively
working on the ground and mobilizing support amongst the INC cadre. Anjinappa had contested 2018 AE
as an independent and secured ~11k votes and Rajeev Gowda is rumoured to be close to KPCC President D.
K. Shivakumar.
 Analysis of Sidlaghatta AC - Next Steps
● JD(S) 2018 AE candidate B. N. Ravikumar (Melur Ravi) has been active in the AC. He had actively helped
people during COVID lockdown which has created a good image for him locally. Also, the JD(S) local party
unit is completely united in support of him, which is his biggest advantage, compared to a fractured INC.
● 2013 MLA from JD(S) M. Rajanna has joined BJP and is aggressively building the organization for the
party. BJP has not seen much success in this AC but since his joining, BJP has been benefitting from
disgruntled cadre from JD(S) joining BJP under his leadership.
● Anjinappa (Puttu) has conducted multiple health camps, and recently conducted an event by the name of
Pratibha Puraskara, which has garnered huge support for him from the women and Youth Cohorts. He has
also maintained strong relationships with all communities, especially Minorities, Vokkaligas, and Dalits.
● Dr. K. Sudhakar has also been pumping in a lot of funds to find a suitable candidate to defeat the INC and
JD(S) in this constituency. He is currently backing M. Rajanna strongly and is denting votes.

Why is JD(S) ahead currently; Short-comings within INC?

● JD(S) candidate B. N. Ravikumar is highly accessible to people and was active in helping people during the
lockdown. This had impacted the image of Ravikumar and JD(S) hugely as INC had only Anjinappa
(Puttu) working for the people MLA V. Muniyappa and the local cadre were inactive. Also, Ravikumar’s
financial status is strong and in the past 5-6 years he had made donations to local temples and social welfare
organizations and carefully built his image in the AC.
● JD(S) has also been denting into the Golla and Dalit votes of the INC, as the sitting MLA and his son have
been completely inaccessible to the voters.
● H. D. Kumaraswamy had announced that B. N. Ravikumar will be the candidate from JD(S) in the Janata
Jaladhare event in Chikkaballapur, and the entire local party unit has rallied behind him.
● Within INC, the cadre base has been severely fragmented among the supporters of V. Muniyappa,
Anjinappa (Puttu), and Rajeev Gowda. Even during the 2018 elections, few second rung SC left leaders
rebelled against V. Muniyappa purportedly on the instructions of then MP K. H. Muniyappa.
● V. Muniyappa has been the INC contestant since 1983 and is facing huge anti-incumbency. But he has been
opposing Anjinappa (Puttu) and Rajeev Gowda who are inclined towards INC and have a following within
the AC. V. Muniyappa is actively pushing for a ticket for his son Dr. Shashidhar in case he is denied a seat
which has also not gone down well with the local INC cadre. The local cadre is largely with Anjinappa
(Puttu).

Next Steps: Strategy to Win

● Anjinappa (Puttu) needs to be given the ticket and Rajeev Gowda needs to be accommodated, as Anjinappa
is the better candidate among all the candidates within the party. V. Muniyappa needs to be taken into
confidence and all three have to campaign for INC here.
● V. Muniyappa needs to be replaced to counter the anti-incumbency and INC needs to campaign with a fresh
face to take on B. N. Ravikumar who is relatively new to electoral politics and is also comparatively young.
Support of V. Muniyappa for this candidate is crucial.
● B. N. Ravikumar’s image within the AC has taken a hit after a youth was killed in what was
alleged as an honour killing after his daughter committed suicide for unknown reasons.
● M. Rajanna, MLA 2013 and son-in-law of S. Munishamappa, MLA 2004 has recently joined BJP andis
actively inducting the disgruntled JD(S) cadre. INC can make use of this situation as any increase in the vote
share of BJP is occurring from a loss of JD(S) vote share.