The Chitradurga parliamentary constituency, which comprises eight Assembly segments of Chitradurga district, and two segments of Tumkur district (Sira and Pavagad), is popularly known as the city of forts. Given that, no steps have been taken to improve the tourism potential in the district. Tourists visiting the historical forts are faced with inadequate amenities, including drinking water and toilets.
The dream of the people here is to get irrigation facilities and to find a permanent solution to the drinking water problem by completing the Upper Bhadra project. Once the project is completed, the district is expected to see rapid growth as the majority of industries that were hesitant to set up their units owing to water shortage, would automatically come to the district. So the people expect the elected representatives to complete the work on the project quickly, to shed the tag of a backward district.
One of the major reasons for the delay in development of the district is that the major political parties have always neglected local candidates here.
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In the last 16 general elections, the Congress has won nine times. The Bharatiya Janata Party registered its first victory in the constituency in the 2009 elections. In 1952, the Congress had made its debut here with the victory of the former Chief Minister late S. Nijalingappa.
J.M. Mohammad Imam Saab from the Muslim community has represented the constituency two times, in 1957 and 1967. Kannada actor Shashi Kumar had represented the constituency in 1999 from Janata Dal (U) by defeating C.P. Mudalgiriyappa of the Congress with a margin of 11,178 votes.
In the present elections, two factors play a crucial role: caste and local candidate. The BJP has fielded sitting MP Janardhanswamy and JD(S) nominee is former Minister Gulihatti Shekhar. Both these candidates belong to the Bhovi community. The Congress has fielded B.N. Chandrappa of the Koracha community.
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The Congress candidate is facing fierce competition from its rebel candidate B. Tippeswamy, who had contested in the last elections on Congress ticket. Since Mr. Tippeswamy belongs to the Madiga community, which has the highest number of voters in the district, this aspect is sure to trouble the party’s official candidate Mr. Chandrappa.
Moreover, Mr. Tippeswmay is also gaining the sympathy of the people as he is saying he missed Congress ticket owing to the conspiracy of district in-charge Minister H. Anjaneya. Since the voters are inclined towards choosing a local candidate, both Mr. Shekhar and Mr. Tippeswamy are loudly claiming they are local residents and the Congress and BJP candidates are outsiders.