Bangalore: Bangalore South has always been a prestigious constituency, but this Lok Sabha elections, it will be watched even more with a relative newcomer and a business baron taking on what has been a BJP stronghold for more than a decade.
Bangalore South has never failed BJP MP Ananth Kumar. He has won the seat four times in a row. But with constituencies now redrawn, the once traditional Brahmin stronghold now has extra Vokkaliga voters - the reason why the Congress has gone in for a newer name - Krishna Byregowda, a young MLA with a clean image, considered close to Rahul Gandhi.
With air travel pioneer Captain Gopinath also fighting from here as an independent; the BJP bastion will see an interesting fight.
"The writing on the wall is very clear. Its advantage-BJP- the fight is between BJP and the congress. The Congress has long way to go," said Ananth Kumar, BJP MP.
Now that its clear that S M Krishna won't contest from Bangalore South, the BJP appears confident. But will the new caste equations and the anti-incumbency vote for change prove costly for Ananth Kumar?