BJP PUSHES to hold its bastion of coastal Karnataka
Coastal Karnataka, the hub of religious politics of the southern state, was a joyride for the BJP in 2018 with the party winning 16 out of the 19 seats in the Uttara Kannada, Dakshin Kannada and Udupi districts. Out of the 13 seats in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, the BJP had won 12, with the Congress winning in Mangalore.
The hijab and halal row, which became a national talking point, originated from the Udupi district and this defines the high religious sentiments in the coastal region. The BJP’s confidence stems from the ground support it has been getting and the party wants to beat the anti-incumbency factor against sitting MLAs.
The region has a sizable population of Saraswat Brahmins (and they proudly announce their caste in conversations) and a fisherman community called Mogaveera. It is this combination which works for the BJP.
