K.N. REDDY analyses the politics of Bidar where unpredictability seems to be the only constant.
On the banks of the Manjira river, the farmer of Bidar is waking up to a tectonic shift in politics as the Assembly polls approach. This district, where every inch of land breathes history, is witnessing a drastic change after the ‘Ajatashatru’ of Karnataka politics, former CM Dharam Singh, passed away a few months ago leaving a yawning gap which the Congress has been finding hard to fill. What has made the scene even more fluid is the recent entry of businessman-turned politician Ashok Kheny into the Congress which has caused a lot of heartburn and upset the aspirations of many an original Congressman. Party leaders had won four of the six seats (including Kheny) in the district in the 2013 polls with the JD(S) bagging one leaving the BJP squirming in embarrassment with one seat in a Lingayat stronghold, immortalised by community icon Basaveshwara. Will the BJP have its sweet revenge for the 2013 debacle, banking on the uncertainties in the Congress or will it be a vote for Dharam again, who even in death, continues to sway the Bidar voter like no one else? K.N. REDDY analyses the politics of Bidar where unpredictability seems to be the only constant
The sudden arrival of former CM late N Dharam Singh on the Bidar political scene in 2009 following his shocking defeat in the 2008 Assembly election in Jewargi constituency in Kalaburagi, is considered a watershed in the politics of Bidar, which till then was dominated by powerful Lingayat leaders like Bheemanna Khandre, Basavaraj Patil Humnabad and Gurupadappa Nagamarapally.
The wily politician he was, Mr Singh was adept at using tactics to win over as well as 'finish off' his political opponents and put his skills to good use by reducing the clout of Lingayat leaders to take control of the affairs of Bidar by consolidating the backward classes, Dalits and minorities.
With senior Lingayat leader Bheemanna Khandre having taken political retirement (Dharam had struck a truce with him), Mr Singh first turned his attention to the powerful Gurupadappa Nagamarapally, who had just then joined the BJP and defeated him in the 2009 Lok Sabha election.
Singh then set his sights on another powerful Lingayat leader, late Basavaraj Patil Humnabad, who had insulted him by talking about it lightly when he tried to contest from the Bidar Lok Sabha seat in 2009. His opportunity to strike back came when elections to the Legislative Council from the local bodies was announced in February 2010.
Using his clout with the high command (Mr Singh's relative Digvijay Singh, was AICC General Secretary then), Dharam managed to deny the ticket to Humnabad- a six time legislator.
Singh however failed to humble Humnabad in the Council polls as the veteran emerged victorious contesting on a BJP ticket but he still managed to become the supreme leader in the district.
Then came the landmark 2014 Lok Sabha polls and Singh, like many other political titans, had to bite the dust. But with a considerate Siddaramaiah in the CM seat and his pal through thick and thin, Mallikarjun Kharge becoming Congress leader in the Lok Sabha, Dharam ensured he was numero uno in Bidar till his death.
And how did he do this over the years? Singh employed a two-pronged strategy – decimate the Lingayat leadership and expand his base with his own band of leaders – who included his relatives besides OBC-minority-Dalit leaders.
Besides grooming his son-in-law Chandra Singh, a businessman from Kolar, as a prospective candidate for the Bidar South constituency, Singh got his son Vijay Singh, elected to the Council from the local body constituency.
His plan was to win all the Assembly segments in 2018 for the Congress and reduce Lingayat influence by fielding two backward class candidates (his son-in-law Chandra Singh in Bidar South and B Narayan, a Kabbaliga leader, in Basavakalyan), a Muslim (Rahim Khan in Bidar North), leaving the Bhalki and Humnabad seats for Lingayats. But before he could fulfil his dream, destiny snatched him away in July 2017.
Dharam demise a setback
While the departure of Singh from the political scene is a big setback for the Congress, it is indeed a shot in the arm for second line Lingayat leaders, who have taken over the mantle. A section of leaders believe Kheny's induction into the Congress is part of a larger game plan to stymie the political structure that Singh tried to put in place in the district.
But there are others who aver that Kheny's entry into the Congress would benefit him more than the party, which is reportedly hoping to bank on his Lingayat origins and his money power. Sources say Kheny, who won the seat in 2013 as leader of his own outfit- Karnataka Makkal Paksha- has frittered away the opportunity and has not done enough for the constituency.
“A strong anti-Kheny wave is sweeping across Bidar South as he has totally failed to fulfil the promises that he had made before the 2013 polls. He had vowed to turn Bidar into Singapore, strengthen the debt-ridden Bidar Sahakar Sakkare Karkhane, get higher compensation for farmers who had lost their land to the Karanja project and set up industries for providing employment to the unemployed. But after getting elected, Kheny turned his back on the constituency for almost four years. Only during the last one year has he paid some attention to his constituency. Doubtful about his victory this time, he first tried to join the BJP which however turned down his request. He then knocked the doors of the Congress which felt he was the best choice to take on the JD(S)' Bandeppa Kashempur and BJP's Dr Shailendra Beldale, in Bidar South. There are Congressman who believe that this decision will boomerang on the party,” said some political analysts.
Kheny entry
Some sources claim that the decision to induct Kheny was taken without informing Mallikarjun Kharge, the tallest leader in the region. "CM Siddaramaiah and Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar have played a key role in the decision", highly placed sources informed. Or was it all about money as some top leaders claim? “The deal is that Kheny will make huge contributions to the party in return for a Rajya Sabha or Assembly seat. The Congress leadership is also expected to bury the joint House committee report on irregularities of NICE, which is said to have indicted him,” the sources added.
Kheny's induction apart, another factor which would have a bearing on the political fortunes of Lingayat leaders is the tussle over religion tag. However leaders like Eshwar Khandre, who had sided with the Akhila Bharat Veerashaiva Mahasabha in opposing the Lingayat religion tag, may remain unscathed by the controversy. “This is because there is no much difference between Veerashaivas and Lingayats and except Banajigas, there are no other major sub-sects in the district. Traditionally, the fight in the district has been between Lingayats and non-Lingayats (such as Muslims, Marathas, Kurubas). Unlike leaders of the Mahasabha such as Shamanur Shivashankarappa who took an aggressive stand, Eshwar Khandre adopted a conciliatory approach on the issue. Moreover in Bhalki constituency, which Eshwar represents, rival BJP candidate Prakash Khandre had kept away from the Lingayat movement respecting his party's stand. So the Congress and BJP are on the same plane in so far as the Lingayat issue is concerned", an in
dependent analyst observed.
BJP smiling
In the Bidar North seat the BJP has received a shot in the arm after the entry of Gurupadappa Nagamarapally's son Suryakanth. He will be taking on sitting MLA Rahim Khan, who would be the Congress candidate. With the constituency, having a sizeable population of Muslims, the fight is sure to be on religious lines. Besides having to face a strong candidate like Suryakanth, the anti-incumbency factor is also likely to work against Khan.
In Humnabad, sitting MLA Rajashekhar Patil, the Congress candidate, may be pitted against former MLA Subash Kallur of the BJP with former Minister Merajuddin Patel's brother Naseem Patel, likely to be the JD(S) candidate.
In Basavakalyan, the Congress is set to field Kabbaliga leader B Nayaran. Sitting JD(S) MLA Mallikarjun Khuba who has quit his party citing its poor poll prospects, is said to have tried hard to get the Congress ticket and is now reportedly knocking on the doors of the BJP. But BJP leaders are in a dilemma as the ticket for Khuba would mean disappointing a possible Maratha candidate in the district. "Of the six constituencies, Maratha voters, who traditionally support the BJP, play a decisive role in Aurad, Bhalki and Basavakalyan. As Aurad is reserved for SC candidates, a Maratha needs to be given the ticket either in Bhalki or Basavakalyan. In Bhalki, two term MLA Prakash Khandre cannot be denied the ticket and so the only option is Basavakalyan", a political analyst observed. The likely induction of Khuba into the BJP has already made a Maratha aspirant, Maruthi Muley, who won the seat in 1999, revolt. He is now knocking on the doors of the JD(S)!
For the Aurad reserved seat, the BJP has already renominated its two-term MLA Prabhu Chavan while the Congress has decided to field retired government officer Bhimsen Sindhe, son-in-law of former Union Minister B. Shankaranand.
Tucked away in the far north-east corner of Karnataka, Bidar symbolises what Karnataka politics is all about - a heady mix of rich and influential politicians, caste-oriented voting and what voters love most - goodies, a lot of it. The Congress will be looking to retain the four seats it won in 2013 if not add to its tally while the BJP, knowing that this is where it can easily win seats flaunting its pro-Lingayat bias, is preparing for a pitched battle to regain its lost glory.
The battle for Bidar, even in the absence of veterans like Dharam Singh, is sure to kick up a lot more dust this time than in the past for a new breed of politicos are raring to take over. And they know that hollow assurances can no longer win over the voter for too many promises have been broken in the past, leaving them as poor, bitter and desperate as ever.
Q&A: Lingayat row won’t impact me, says Khandre
Q. With assembly elections round the corner, what are the prospects of the Congress in the district?
The party is well equipped to face the elections. Our image is bright and the mood among the cadre is upbeat, the reason being the good performance of the state government. We have fulfilled all promises made and provided transparent and corruption free government.
Q. What impact will the implementation of Article 371(J) giving special status to Hyderabad-Karnataka, have this time?
In this election the impact would be much more as the benefits have reached the people. We have availed a lot of funds from the Hyderabad Karnataka Region Development Board (HKRDB) and utilised them for development.
Q. The division of BJP votes between BJP and KJP was one of the factors responsible for the poor show of the BJP in the previous election. Will the consolidation of votes help BJP this time?
Not much. The BJP does not have a strong base in the district; more than 80% voters are with us.
Q. Former CM Dharam Singh is no more on the scene. How will it affect the party?
He was a tall leader who brought unity among the cadre and also leaders. He would have guided us if he was alive.
Q. The movement for Lingayat religion is strong in Bidar. What impact will it have on the party and on your prospects?
Lingayats and Veerashaivas are one and the same and neither the party nor I will face any adverse impact.
Q. What prompted the party to induct Ashok Kheny?
The decision (to bring Kheny in) was taken by the Chief Minister and the KPCC President and we abide by it. The decision has been taken with an intention to consolidate our votes and this time we are confident of winning all the six seats. I was consulted on the matter but I cannot comment whether it is the right decision or not; it’s the decision of the High Command.
