BD NarayankarBengaluru, March 22 -- The byelections to Davangere South and Bagalkot Assembly constituencies have turned into a high-stakes political contest, with the ruling Congress grappling with internal factions even as the Opposition BJP looks to frame the elections as a referendum on governance in Karnataka.
With polling scheduled for April 9 and counting on May 4, the twin contests are increasingly being viewed as a test of both electoral strength and the Congress' ability to maintain cohesion amid competing power centres and social equations.
The elections were necessitated by the demise of former Ministers Shamanur Shivashankarappa and HY Meti and come at a politically sensitive juncture during the Budget session, adding urgency ...