Karnataka polls: BJP's Araga Jnanendra pitted against Congress' Kimmane Rathnakar

The candidates have been engaged in a whirlwind campaign trail as a few days are left for the Karnataka assembly polls.

Shivamogga (Karnataka): Shivamogga's Tirthahalli assembly seat in Karnataka is famous for art, literature, music as well as politics. In Tirthahalli taluk, sitting MLA and home minister Araga Jnanendra from BJP, former minister Kimmane Rathnakar from Congress, Rajaram Hagde from JDS, Salur Shivkumar Gowda from Aam Aadmi Party and Arun Kannahalli from Karnataka Rashtra Samithi are in the fray. The candidates have been engaged in a whirlwind campaign trail as a few days are left for the state assembly polls.

BJP's Araga Jnanendra contesting election for the 10th time:Statehome minister Araga Jnanendra has the distinction of contesting the Karnataka assembly polls for the 10th time on a BJP ticket. Jnanendra is one of the few political leaders in the state who has never switched sides. He contested for the first time on a BJP ticket in 1983 from Shikaripura seat. His contemporary was former Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa. Jnanendra suffered three consecutive losses from 1983 to 1994.

In 1994, he entered the Karnataka assembly. He was elected as an MLA for the first time. Once, Araga Gyanendra's charisma took a backseat. He was defeated by 2952 votes against D. B. Chandregowda, who was an influential politician and minister.

Gyanendra achieved a hat trick in 1994, 1999 and 2004. Besides, he also busted the myth that those who won elections contesting from Tirthahalli seat, did not get a chance for the second time. He again won the 2018 assembly elections from the Tirthahalli seat and became the home minister of the state. Gyanendra comes from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) cadre, the political ideologue of the saffron party. So far, the RSS veteran had contested elections nine times, wherein he won four times and lost five times.

Congress candidate Kimmane Ratnakar:Congress candidateKimmane Rathnakar who is also contesting the assembly election from Tirthahalli seat, originally belongs to a family of farmers. He, however, started his career as a lawyer. His political journey kickstarted from Taluk Board level. Ratnakar fought on JDS ticket in 1999. He was defeated. In 2004, he joined the Congress party and contested the assembly election and was defeated. In 2009, Rathnakar defeated BJP's Jnanendra, who was an MLA three times, by a margin of 3826 votes.

Rathnakar won state assembly polls for the second time in 2013 and served as Education Minister in Siddaramaiah's cabinet for three years. He had the distinction of never missing the House proceedings for a single day during his tenure. Rathnakar is known as a gentleman politician in the state and has been contesting the election for the sixth time.