By choosing Badami in Bagalkot district as the second constituency in addition to Chamundeshwari in Mysuru district to contest the coming polls, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is stretching himself — politically and electorally — from the Cauvery heartland of South Karnataka to the dry North Karnataka region, which is hoping for Mahadayi water.
Badami, like the Chamundi Hills and Chamundeshwari Temple in Chamundeshwari, is also a tourist destination with enchanting cave temples attracting visitors from around the world. Demographically, its constituency boasts of a sizeable population of Kurubas, the caste to which Mr. Siddaramaiah belongs.
His move to enter the poll fray from a second and “safe” constituency comes amid reports of the going getting tough for the Congress’s Chief Ministerial candidate in Chamundeshwari, where his friend-turned-foe and JD(S) candidate G.T. Deve Gowda is putting up a spirited fight. But, Mr. Siddaramaiah, who vowed to contest from Chamundeshwari during his last visit to the constituency, said he was under pressure to enter the poll fray from one North Karnataka constituency as it would boost the prospects of Congress candidates in the region.
Though Chamundeshwari constituency comprises a few urban patches of Mysuru city, the constituency encompassing the immediate outskirts of Mysuru is largely rural and driven by an agrarian economy. But, the constituency also boasts of an industrial belt with more than 2,500 industries — large, medium and small-scale.
Badami in grip of drought
In Badami, Mr. Siddaramaiah’s decision to enter the poll fray comes at a time when the cry for irrigation and drinking water from the people of the region is turning louder. But, the presence of a Chief Ministerial candidate in the fray has excited the people. Said veteran journalist, S.M. Hiremath: “Badami is facing severe drought for the last over a decade. Irrigation project from Malaprabha river has still remained a pipe dream for the taluk. Mahadayi is the one major project, which could resolve drinking water and irrigation problems to a large extent, but this project is already marred by controversy.”
