Karnataka assembly polls: Why these politicians cannot afford to lose

This election saw a close contest in many segments, including where heavyweights were in the fray. Pollsters give them a 50:50 chance, but they cannot afford to lose as their political futures are at stake. TOI looks at some of them.
HD Kumaraswamy
If former chief minister and JD(S) second-incommand HD Kumaraswamy, who was locked in a fierce battle with BJP’s CP Yogeshwara, loses, he will be denied of the chance of playing a major role in the event of a fractured mandate.The chances of him becoming CM will also be slim. His defeat will also spell doom for his regional party and may escalate the power struggle within the HD Deve Gowda family.
Laxman Savadi
A defeat for former DyCM Laxman Savadi’s in Athani against BJP’s Mahesh Kumathalli may put the brakes on his political journey as a legislator, besides ending his control over Belagavi District Cooperative Bank, the lifeline of local politicians. He may even have to face further “attacks” from political foe Ramesh Jarkiholi and retaliation from BJP, which he deserted after being denied a ticket.
Siddaramaiah
A defeat for Siddaramaiah will not only oust him from the CM’s race but also end his ‘numero uno’ status in the party. It may even end his career since he has already announced his retirement from electoral politics. A loss will also leave him with the guilt of ending his son Yathidra’s political career, since the latter sacrificed his holding seat (Varuna) for his father.
Jagadish Shettar
‘Self-respect’ and a political future are at stake for the former chief minister who is contesting from Hubballi-Dharwad Central. Ahead of elections, he left BJP, which he was part of for over three decades, and joined Congress, which he opposed all through his political career. Shettar is out to prove his political mettle to BJP’s central leadership, especially to Union minister Pralhad Joshi and CM Bommai, whom he thinks were responsible for BJP denying him a ticket. If he loses, he will become a target of trolls among BJP cadre.
BY Vijayendra & Nikhil Kumaraswamy
A defeat in his maiden election from Shikaripura, the constituency which his father former chief minister and BJP mentro BS Yediyurappa held for decades, will be a big blow to Vijayendra’s political career. It will also dent efforts of Yediyurappa and a section of BJP to showcase him as the future face of the saffron party. He is being seen as Yediyurappa’s political heir which means a lot is riding on him.
Similarly, a defeat in the party’s stronghold of Ramanagara may end Nikhil’s political ambitions — at least for the time being — as it will be his second straight electoral defeat in a span of four years (he lost the Mandya Lok Sabha seat in 2019 to independent Sumalatha Ambareesh). It will also lower Nikhil’s morale and trigger doubts over his ability to appeal to voters. This will also spike his father HD Kumaraswamy’s efforts to project him as his successor to lead JD(S). He would be forced to make way for HD Revanna’s sons Prajwal (Hassan MP), and Suraj, an MLC.