Kanakapura Clash: BJP’s Ashoka Takes on Congress Strongman Shivakumar in Epic Showdown

New Delhi (India), May 6, 2023: In the highly anticipated May 10 Assembly polls in Karnataka, all eyes are on the constituency of Kanakapura, where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) aims to breach the stronghold of Karnataka Congress President D K Shivakumar.

The BJP has strategically fielded senior party leader and Minister R Ashoka, considered its Vokkaliga face, against Shivakumar, a Vokkaliga strongman, on his home turf. With the contest heating up, the outcome in Kanakapura will be one of the highlights of the election.

Shivakumar, a seven-time MLA, has been elected thrice from Kanakapura since 2008 and is seeking re-election for the fourth time. In the 2018 elections, he secured a significant victory, defeating Janata Dal (Secular) candidate Narayana Gowda by a margin of 79,909 votes.

However, the BJP aims to end Shivakumar’s dominance in the constituency, which has earned the moniker “Republic of Kanakapura” due to his stranglehold over the segment.

The BJP’s surprise move of fielding R Ashoka as its candidate has brought a fresh wave of competition to Kanakapura after nearly two decades. Ashoka, accompanied by a significant number of supporters, has expressed confidence in triggering a change in the constituency’s political landscape.

While Shivakumar remains optimistic about his win and his supporters have high hopes for his future as Chief Minister, the BJP seeks to tap into the discontent and build its presence in an area where it has been relatively weak.