Hindutva poster girl vs ex-IIM professor in Bangalore North | Lok Sabha polls 2024

The Bangalore North Lok Sabha constituency, which has been a BJP stronghold for over 15 years, is set for a showdown between two distinct political ideologies. Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje, known for her affiliation with Hindutva politics, is set to contest against Congress' MV Rajeev Gowda, former professor of IIM, Bangalore.

Karandlaje replaces incumbent two-time MP Sadanand Gowda on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ticket. She brings both experience and controversy to the electoral field. She started her political career with the RSS and went on to win the Udupi-Chikmagalur Lok Sabha constituency in 2014 and 2019. Karandlaje is the Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, and Food Processing Industries in the Modi cabinet.

She recently sparked controversy by accusing the people of Tamil Nadu for Bengaluru’s Rameshwaram Cafe blast that injured at least 10 people. The Election Commission directed the Karnataka Chief Electoral officer to take action against her for violating the Model Code of Conduct, based on DMK’s complaint.

In contrast, MV Rajeev Gowda succeeds Krishna Byre Gowda as the Congress' candidate from Bangalore North. He is the son of late MV Venkatappa, who held the positions of Legislative Assembly Speaker and Chairman of the legislative council in Karnataka. Rajeev finished his higher studies in the United States and later returned to teach at IIM, Bangalore.

Can Gowda challenge BJP dominance in Bangalore North? Karnataka will vote in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections on April 26.

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