In what has been an unprecedented mandate for the BJP in Karnataka, Anantkumar Hegde has won the Uttara Kannada seat for the sixth time, with a margin of 4,79,649 votes (after all rounds of counting, Hegde has bagged 7,86,042 votes and Anand Asnotikar, the runner-up, has garnered only 3,06,393). This margin is a new record for Karnataka.
Anantkumar is known across the constituency for his ‘straightforward’, ‘no nonsense’ leadership. People have many stories to tell about his public outbursts and his intolerance for corruption.
While these might seem novel qualities, a section of the population – mainly in the areas which come under Belgaum district and the coastal areas – see him as someone who will not compromise on the Hindutva ideology and keep ‘Muslims in control’.
While the lack of jobs for the youth is a problem, the largely agriculturalist upper class in the constituency see him as someone who will not compromise on the environmental wealth of the region for mindless industrialisation.
The above factors would have certainly helped Anantkumar win the seat again, but the margin has been enhanced with the help of a clueless opposition. Many feel that the Congress made a compromise by giving the seat to the JD(S), their alliance partners. There is a widespread opinion that Prashant Deshpande, son of minister RV Deshpande, would have been a better candidate to take on Anantkumar. Although Prashant had lost in 2014, there were certain areas in the constituency where he had fared better than Anantkumar.
In addition to this, the overwhelming image of Prime Minister Modi as the incorruptible messiah – a narrative popularised by television media – seems to have helped Anantkumar win this record mandate. Will this result make him more ambitious at a national level? Will it make him more conscious of his image and hence restrain himself from making overtly communal remarks as many in the district seem to claim?