Gulbarga, Karnataka Lok Sabha Election 2024: Voting for the 3rd Phase of LS Polls

2024 Lok Sabha election in Karnataka.

Polling for the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections in Gulbarga, Karnataka, which began at 7 AM today, has seen a 47.67% voter turnout till 5PM. In 2019, it was 61.13%. Umesh G Jadhav (BJP) is contesting against Radhakrishna Doddamani of the Congress.

The Gulbarga Lok Sabha constituency in Karnataka comprises eight assembly segments—Afzalpur, Jewargi, Gurmitkal, Chitapur, Sedam, Gulbarga Rural, Gulbarga South, and Gulbarga North.

For decades, the Gulbarga Lok Sabha constituency has been a stronghold of the Congress party, tracing its roots back to India's first general elections in 1951. Out of the 17 elections conducted since then, the Congress emerged victorious 14 times, solidifying its position as the dominant force in the region. However, the political landscape has witnessed notable shifts with the emergence of alternative political entities, challenging the Congress's longstanding supremacy.

The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) victories in 1998 and 2019 disrupted the Congress's longstanding hegemony, signifying a shift in power dynamics. In the 2019 elections, Umesh G Jadhav of the BJP defeated Congress stalwart Mallikarjun Kharge, marking a significant turning point in the political landscape.

Now, Kharge’s son-in-law Radhakrishna Doddamani of the Congress emerges as a strong contender for the party's ticket, poised to uphold and advance the legacy of his predecessor.

Also read: Karnataka 2024 Lok Sabha elections phase 3: Key constituencies and candidates.

However, the BJP is equally determined to retain the Gulbarga seat, fielding Jadhav once again. The BJP is brandishing the Hindutva card, dubbing its adversary as “pro-Muslim” and also claiming the launch of new trains, including the Vande Bharat Express from Gulbarga, as its achievements.

The Gulbarga constituency boasts more than 20 lakh voters, comprising diverse communities such as Kolis (Kabbaligas) and Lingayats, the latter being the largest community with around 5 lakh voters. The BJP is heavily banking on the support of the Lingayat community. Religious diversity further enriches the constituency, with Muslims comprising 20 percent, and other religious communities making up the remaining 10 percent.

Gulbarga, with its unique blend of traditional and modern influences, reflects a distinct rural-urban divide, with 65 percent residing in rural areas and 35 percent in urban centers.