With the third phase of parliamentary elections around the corner, Anjanadri, believed by the devout to be the birthplace of Hanuman, has come into the election focus in Koppal. Amid the Congress’ guarantee schemes challenging the BJP’s “Modi development” narrative that has now morphed into Hindutva, the Koppal Lok Sabha constituency is poised for a close finish.
Spread across Koppal, Raichur, and Ballari districts, the Koppal Lok Sabha constituency has a mix of large tracts of dry and arid region and the irrigated parts of Gangavati and Sindhanur areas which have been affected differently by the drought this year. Basavaraj Kyavator, an orthopaedic surgeon, who replaced incumbent MP Karadi Sanganna as the BJP candidate, is taking on Congress’ K. Rajashekar Hitnal, who had earlier lost to Mr. Sanganna in the 2019 parliamentary polls.
The election campaign by the candidates which appeared mostly scripted — similar to many other constituencies that have witnessed “Modi agenda” versus the “benefits of the guarantee schemes” — has over the last few days veered towards Anjanadri, with both camps turning their attention to the development of the hillock along the Tungabhadra.
