In Bengaluru IT hub, amid water crisis, crumbling infra, BJP old-timer, Cong debutant locked in a keen tussle

Bengaluru’s Information Technology (IT) sector, often called India’s Silicon Valley, generates $50 billion in annual revenue. The 18 km IT corridor from the Silk Board junction to KR Puram, spans three Lok Sabha constituencies, including Bangalore South, Central and North. A large section of it falls under the Mahadevapura Assembly segment in the Bangalore Central Lok Sabha constituency, which is represented by three-time BJP MP P C Mohan.

This time, Mohan is facing off against Congress debutant Mansoor Ali Khan, secretary of the KK Educational & Charitable Trust that runs the Delhi Public School (DPS) across the country. The Bangalore Central Lok Sabha seat is going to polls on April 26.

In Mahadevapura, which has around 4.5 lakh voters, lay the heart of the IT sector that is integral to Bengaluru’s economic success. Trends of past Lok Sabha results show that out of the eight Assembly segments within it, significant leads in Mahadevapura and C V Raman Nagar (both SC-reserved seats) have always helped the BJP win Bangalore Central, a constituency whose population comprises 17% Muslims and nearly 5% Christians. The SCs, who have been part of the BJP’s support base here, account for 16% population.

Of its Assembly segments, Muslims are in sizable numbers in four – Chamarajpet, Shantinagar, Sarvagnanagar and Shivaji Nagar – where the Congress aims to score big, while the BJP is working hard to retain its votes there.

Along with the SC community, the large apartment complexes in and around Mahadevapura and other parts of Central Bengaluru determine the poll results. This fiscal, Mahadevapura contributed Rs 1,039 crore in property taxes.

However, the area is affected by water scarcity, poor road infrastructure and public