Polling for the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections in Dharwad, Karnataka, which began at 7 AM today, has seen a 55% voter turnout till 5PM. In 2019, it was 70.25%.BJP has chosen to field their incumbent Member of Parliament, Pralhad Joshi, against Vinod Asooti, a youth leader of the INC.
The Dharwad Lok Sabha Constituency is one of Karnataka's 28 parliamentary seats, established during the 2008 delimitation process. It comprises Navalgund, Kundgol, Dharwad, Hubballi-Dharwad East, Hubballi-Dharwad Central, Hubballi-Dharwad West, Kalghatgi and Shiggaon assembly constituencies.
In its electoral debut in 2009, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a significant victory in Dharwad, a trend that continued in the subsequent elections of 2014 and 2019. This consistent success has made the BJP the sole winner in one of Karnataka's relatively newer constituencies.
The upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections are slated to be held in Dharwad on Thursday, May 7, 2024.
BJP has chosen to field their incumbent Member of Parliament, Pralhad Joshi, for the fourth consecutive time. Joshi, a three-time incumbent, has secured victories with substantial margins, winning by over 1 lakh votes in 2009 and 2014, and doubling the margin to over 2 lakhs in 2019. Additionally, Joshi currently serves as the Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Coal, and Mines of India, a position he has held since May 30, 2019.
Also check: Karnataka 2024 Lok Sabha election phase 3: Key constituencies and candidates.
On the other hand, the Indian National Congress (INC) has adopted a different strategy for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections by entrusting younger leaders with crucial responsibilities.
Vinod Asooti, a youth leader, has been selected as the INC candidate for the Dharwad constituency in the 18th Lok Sabha elections. This marks Asooti's first foray into Lok Sabha elections, signifying a fresh approach for the Congress party. Despite being relatively new to mainstream politics, Asooti has been chosen to represent the party's aspirations in Dharwad.
The spotlight this year is on Dingaleshwar Swami, a Lingayat pontiff, who has emerged as an independent candidate vowing to unseat Joshi.
While Joshi exudes confidence in securing victory, the BJP is relying on the substantial Lingayat and Hindutva vote banks for support.
The constituency has about 18 lakh voters. Among them, the minorities, Other Backward Castes (OBCs) and Dalits comprise 10 lakh voters.
| CANDIDATE NAME | PARTY |
| Pralhad Joshi | BJP |
| Vinod Asooti | Congress |
| Dingaleshwar Swami | Independent |
Also check: Live updates 2024 Lok Sabha election.
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