Sat Nov 09 01:47:00 UTC 2024: ## Shiggaon By-election: A Battle of Dynasties and Development

**Shiggaon, Karnataka:** The upcoming by-election in the Shiggaon Assembly constituency is shaping up to be a close contest between the BJP and the Congress. The seat, previously held by former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, is now being contested by his son, Bharath Bommai. The Congress has fielded Yasir Ahmed Khan Pathan, a Muslim candidate, for the sixth consecutive election.

The constituency, once a stronghold of the Congress, has become a BJP bastion since Basavaraj Bommai’s entry into the party. While the BJP is emphasizing the continuity of development under Bharath Bommai’s leadership, the Congress is painting the election as a fight against dynastic politics.

Despite the large Muslim population in Shiggaon, the Congress has continued to field Muslim candidates despite repeated defeats. The party is attempting to leverage the discontent within the BJP over the nomination of a former Chief Minister’s son. However, they have faced a setback with the withdrawal of rebel candidate Sayed Azeem Peer Khadri.

Meanwhile, the BJP is employing a strategy that includes highlighting the waqf board issue, a sensitive topic in the constituency. This has drawn criticism from the Congress, who accuse the BJP of attempting to incite fear among the Hindu electorate.

The election is expected to be tightly contested, with both parties deploying significant resources and campaigning heavily in the constituency.

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