Karnataka Parties Begin Gearing Up for 2019 Lok Sabha Election

Barely after the recent assembly election in Karnataka, the state’s three main parties, the BJP, the Congress and the JD(S), are preparing to put their workers back on an election footing, this time for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Their leaders are lining up campaigns over the coming fortnight.

BJP: a yatra from Bidar

State BJP president B S Yeddyurappa is to begin a yatra across northern Karnataka from Bidar on August 9. The seven-day tour is meant to energise the party’s workers in the region.

Congress: Shakti and a farmers’ rally

Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah has been pressing the party to copy the BJP’s style of detailed election management. Party president Rahul Gandhi has acted on this through the newly launched “Shakti” initiative, which sets out guidelines to strengthen the party’s links at the grassroots.

Rahul Gandhi will speak at a farmers’ rally in Bidar on August 13, which is being seen as the start of the party’s Lok Sabha preparations. KPCC working president Eshwar Khandre said about two lakh farmers from Bidar and nearby districts were expected at the rally at Nehru Stadium. Khandre wants workers ready for battle, as he believes an early election in December or January is quite likely.

JD(S): a revamp

The JD(S) does not want to look weak. Its newly appointed state president H Vishwanath is drawing up plans to overhaul the party with guidance from H D Deve Gowda. Vishwanath said a new, young team of office bearers would be named soon and would tour the state to rally workers. He said the party would recover its past strength and emerge as a strong force at the national level after the election.

What happened next

The 2019 Lok Sabha election was held between 11 April and 19 May 2019; the BJP won 303 of the 543 seats and the Congress 52.

See also: Elections

Originally published on 7 August 2018. Rewritten on 9 October 2026.

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