Karnataka elections: Namesake problem for heavyweights in 20 constituencies

In 20 constituencies of Karnataka, namesakes of heavyweight candidates will contest the polls as independent candidates.

Bengaluru: Most seats will see triangular contest in the Karnataka assembly elections slated on May 10. But, heavyweight candidates in 20 constituencies face stiff competition from their namesakes, who have been fielded as independent candidates.

The heavyweight candidates' namesakes have left them in trouble by creating confusion among voters. According to political analysts, parties often field the namesakes as independent candidates as part of their political strategy. The move is aimed at splitting the votes by creating confusion. Let us see some of the constituencies where candidates will contest against their namesakes.

Hoskote Constituency:23 candidates are in the fray in the high profile Hoskote constituency. The incumbent MLA Sarath Bachegowda is a strong candidate of the Congress but, his namesake has been fielded as an independent candidate. Similarly, there are two independent candidates, who are the namesakes of BJP candidate, MTB Nagaraj.

Channapatna Constituency:Channapatna is the constituency of former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy. BJP's CP Yogeshwar is the strongest opponent and 15 candidates are in the fray in this constituency. However, an independent candidate, who is the namesake of Kumaraswamy has entered the fray in this constituency. The independent candidate is Kumaraswamy YC

Srinivaspur Constituency:Incumbent MLA of Srinivaspur Constituency and Congress candidate KR Ramesh Kumar is contesting from this seat against GK Venkatashivareddy from JD(S) and Gunjur R Srinivasa Reddy from BJP. Nine candidates are contesting from this seat. Among which, Kumar's two namesakes, NR Ramesh Kumar and S Ramesh Kumar are independent candidates. This apart, there is another independent candidate, TN Venkatashivareddy, who is Venkatashivareddy's namesake.

Yalahanka Constituency:Twenty candidates are in the poll fray in Yalahanka Constituency. SR Vishwanath, sitting MLA of BJP is pitted against Munegowda M from JD(S). Two namesakes of Vishwanath, namely SV Vishwanath and Vishwanath HJ have been fielded as independent candidates. Again, three namesakes of Munegowda namely Munegowda N, BM Munegowda and Munegowda V are contesting as independents.

Dasarahalli Constituency:Fifteen candidates are contesting from Dasarahalli Constituency. The contest is between JD(S)'s MLA R Manjunath, BJP's Muniraju and Congress's G Dhananjaya. Incidentally, there are three namesakes of Manjunath, namely N Manjunath, Manjunath R and R Manjunath.

Chikkaballapur constituency:Among the 12 candidates contesting from Chikkaballapur constituency, there are minister and MLA Dr K Sudhakar from the BJP, Pradeep Eshwara from Congress and KP Bachegowda from JD(S). Sudhakar's namesake Sudhakar N is contesting as independent candidate.

Chintamani Constituency:Sitting MLA JK Krishna Reddy of JD(S) is contesting against GN Venugopal of BJP and MC Sudhakar of Congress. Among the total 11 candidates, Krishnareddy has two namesakes, Krishna Reddy K and NC Krishnareddy

Bommanahalli Constituency:Sitting BJP MLA Satish Reddy has two namesakes while Congress's Umapati S Gowda has one namesake among the 14 candidates.

Hassan Constituency:Of the nine candidates, there is Swaroop BM, whose name is similar to JD(S) strongman Swaroop Prakash.

Holenarasipur Constituency:Sitting MLA of JD (S) HD Revanna has his namesake among the indepedents contesting the polls.