Karnataka has delivered its verdict in this general election, with the remaining 11 out of the 28 seats in the state having voted on Thursday. And in the coastal constituency of Dakshina Kannada it is being considered a real test of the BJP state government's performance.
Mangalore, is the coastal town which made news for all the wrong reasons. An already communalised community. It is considered a BJP stronghold. But this time, the Congress feels it has a real chance. The minorities and the youth constitute a sizeable chunk of the vote here - and the party is banking on them.
"We think of growing communalism," say young voters.
"It has become more communal - and the voters want a change," said Janardhana Poojary, Congress candidate, Dakshina Kannada,
But it could be easier said than done. Even though the Shri Ram Sene has very little presence here, it's Chief Muthalik not allowed inside Mangalore. The BJP candidate here is an old RSS hand and there is a BJP government ruling in the state.
The vote in Dakshina Kannada - as in no other constituency in the state - will be linked to the state government's performance. Voters will judge how the government itself viewed and dealt with the recent disturbances here.
