Bangalore: It has been termed as the fastest developing area or locality in the country in the past two years by the Real Estate association of India. Technology parks, industries and newer parts of greater Bangalore have added to this constituency, making it the largest in Karnataka area-wise.
The battle for Bangalore North is high-pitched as a former chief minister of Karnataka takes on a candidate who won the Congress primaries hands down.
In a region considered the new hub for IT companies, former chief minister Sadananda Gowda is learning to send group emails to voters on feather touch keypads, abandoning traditional methods of campaigning.
Sporting an ear-to-ear smile and a sun tan, the BJP candidate from Bangalore is hoping to retain the seat Chandre Gowda won for the party in 2009.
"People say I am the smile politician because they seem to like my smile. Let it win some votes for me," says a smiling Sandananda Gowda. "In the Centre and the state people are fed up with the Congress party. Congress has been in power here in the state for 11 months and not much work has happened during Siddaramaiah's tenure so far."
NDTV asked: It is debatable how many files moved in your 11 months as chief minister here too, but what changes can you bring to the region if elected as MP in the next five years?
To this, Mr Gowda says, "I will not give assurances now. You will see for yourself how much development I can bring...People also want development and infrastructure betterment here along with other investments that are coming. And that only Modi ji and his government can bring."
The fight for a ticket to contest from Bangalore North itself was quite a contest. Many senior leaders from BJP state unit were eying this seat and for the Congress this happens to be one of two primaries seat in Karnataka.
The primaries left behind some popular faces like Rajeev Gowda of IIM Bangalore. And the candidate now is former MP from the region, C Narayanaswamy.
Formerly with the JDS and MP from this very seat in the past, Mr Narayanaswamy says Sadananda Gowda may be a former chief minister but is an 'outsider' to the constituency unlike he who lives in Bangalore North.
"He is like a rolling stone which gathers no moss. He doesn't belong here. He won from coastal Karnataka earlier and because he can't face the people of the constituency there, he has come here. I will win without doubt." Mr Narayanaswamy added.
Bangalore North may have seen dramatic changes and high rises in the past few years but connectivity and better modes of transport, cleaner water supply and uninterrupted electricity are the main issues for the voters here.
The battle for Bangalore North is high-pitched as a former chief minister of Karnataka takes on a candidate who won the Congress primaries hands down.
In a region considered the new hub for IT companies, former chief minister Sadananda Gowda is learning to send group emails to voters on feather touch keypads, abandoning traditional methods of campaigning.
"People say I am the smile politician because they seem to like my smile. Let it win some votes for me," says a smiling Sandananda Gowda. "In the Centre and the state people are fed up with the Congress party. Congress has been in power here in the state for 11 months and not much work has happened during Siddaramaiah's tenure so far."
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To this, Mr Gowda says, "I will not give assurances now. You will see for yourself how much development I can bring...People also want development and infrastructure betterment here along with other investments that are coming. And that only Modi ji and his government can bring."
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The primaries left behind some popular faces like Rajeev Gowda of IIM Bangalore. And the candidate now is former MP from the region, C Narayanaswamy.
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"He is like a rolling stone which gathers no moss. He doesn't belong here. He won from coastal Karnataka earlier and because he can't face the people of the constituency there, he has come here. I will win without doubt." Mr Narayanaswamy added.
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