JDS' Kumaraswamy takes on sitting MP, Union minister for Petroleum Veerappa Moily in Chikkaballapura.
This one is likely to be among the top contests in the South. In the dry parched constituency of Chikkaballapura in Southern Karnataka, two former chief ministers of the state are fighting each other.
JDS' Kumaraswamy takes on sitting MP, Union minister for Petroleum Veerappa Moily. From being an MP to turning MLA just last year and now hoping to be an MP again, the gamble continues for Mr Kumaraswamy.
He has migrated from his earlier seat in Bangalore rural to Chikkaballapura, a new region, despite fewer voters belonging to the Vokkalliga community who traditionally vote for the JDS. "Everybody thinks that this time Congress or BJP government will not form in Delhi. Naturally Third front, that is regional parties is going to play a major role, and in that I will also play a small role," he said.
"This time we are targeting about 12 to 14 seats from entire state. We are concentrating on those 13/14 seats on which we have full confidence," added a confident sounding Kumaraswamy.
In farther parts of Chikkaballapura, around 95 kms away from Bangalore in Bagepalli, Mr Moily starts his day by visiting a temple of a goddess meant to protect the backward classes. Chikkaballapura is dominated by people belonging to the SC, ST, OBC community. The region has been voting for the Congress since 1977. The 74-year-old politician faces the JDS heavyweight against him unlike in 2009 when he won with a margin of over 51,000 votes against considerably weaker candidates.
"I have done very well as an MP here, even locally I have visited more than 1001 times...I stand on my own merit...Kumaraswamy is only gambling with seats," said Mr Moily.
Back in the villages, once the rallies are over and convoy of cars gone, anger surfaces among voters. The majority are below poverty line. They may have elected a man who went on to become petroleum minister, but they themselves have no gas stoves. Drinking water has been the biggest poll issue for years. "You must have heard of how the poor suffer sleeplessness in hunger. Here we are scared to even drink water fearing it would be over. I have been voting for years. Those I voted for have come up so well. I remain where I was." says 85-year old Venkatamma.
The BJP has fielded former state minister Bache Gowda hoping he could be the dark horse. Chikkaballapura has eight assembly constituencies and just last year when the state voted, the Congress bagged five.