Poster Girl For Hindutva: Can Shobha Shed Her 'Outsider' Tag in Bengaluru North?

Bengaluru North has been a BJP bastion since 2004. Will the 'Modi factor' help Shobha Karandlaje come to power?

"I am shocked to see a Lok Sabha candidate make such provocative statements, pitting two communities against each other. This is nothing but vote bank politics. They (BJP) are trying to communalise the city," said Ramesh (name changed), a 52-year-old Tamilian auto driver from Bengaluru's Malleshwaram.

Ramesh was referring to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Bengaluru North candidate Shobha Karandlaje's comment that people "come from Tamil Nadu and plant bombs in Bengaluru's cafes" in the wake of the 1 March bomb blast in the city's Rameswaram Cafe. "This government is protecting minorities and it is anti-Hindu," she had alleged.

Multiple FIRs were filed against her in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka for promoting enmity between different groups. Even the Election Commission had vowed action against her.

Although Karandlaje later retracted her statement, it has left voters like Ramesh in disbelief.

As the two-time MP from Udupi-Chikmagalur takes on former Rajya Sabha MP MV Rajeev Gowda of the Congress in Bengaluru North – a BJP's bastion – on 26 April, The Quint looks at the rise of Karandlaje, her politics, and what voters in her constituency think about candidature.

From Devout Sangh Followers to MoS: Shobha's Rise

Karandlaje, 57, belongs to the politically influential Vokkaliga community – and has worked closely with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). She joined politics full-time in 1996 after she became the general secretary of Udupi District BJP Mahila Morcha.

By early 2000s, she set her sights on Bengaluru, where former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, whom she terms as her political mentor, took her under his wing. 

She began her electoral stint as a Member of Legislative Council (MLC) in 2004. Four years later, she contested the Assembly polls from Yeshvanthapura (in Bengaluru North) and won. This was despite a stiff resistance from a section of BJP workers who had refused to campaign for an "outsider."

Muzaffar Assadi, a Mysore University professor and political analyst, told The Quint that Karandlaje was no stranger to controversy, which helped her carve out a niche for herself within the BJP's Karnataka ranks quickly.

"Since Shobha comes from this region, and was in the RSS and the BJP, she became a firebrand politician. There was no woman candidate like her who could create a stir in Mangalore politics like she did. It's important to note that the region was also the hotbed of communal politics."

Muzaffar Assadi to The Quint

In 2014 and 2019, Karandlaje was fielded from the Udupi-Chikmagalur Lok Sabha constituency. She won both times.

Karnataka BJP spokesperson Surabhi Hodigere told The Quint that Karandlaje's rise was a testament to the fact that the party "supported and encouraged talent that is underrepresented."

"Shobha Akka (sister) is an important piece of the puzzle in Karnataka politics as a woman leader who has come through without family backgrounds. She is probably one of the very few who has made it to these top levels of party and government," Hodigere said.

However, her rise through the party was not smooth. Many pointed out how "sexism" within the party forced her to exit the Karnataka cabinet in 2009.

"Back then, some leaders claimed she was controlling the government and Yediyurappa. Her rise is something that has been keenly watched by a lot within the party. Many don't like her politics and her way of functioning. She has more enemies than friends in the party," a rebel BJP leader said on the condition of anonymity.

In March 2024, she faced massive anti-incumbency from her party cadre in Udupi-Chikmagalur, who were seen protesting with slogans such as "Go Back, Shobha!"

The anti-incumbency was one of the main reasons why she was shifted to Bengaluru North, party sources told The Quint.

Responding to the protest by the cadre, Karandlaje had alleged that a conspiracy was being hatched to deprive her of the party ticket in the elections.

'Outspoken Hindutva': Karandlaje's History of Hate Speeches & Communal Politics

Speaking about the recent instances of hate speech involving Karandlaje, Professor Assadi termed her politics as "outspoken Hindutva" and said she is "aggressive" with her speeches. In the past, Karandlaje has come under criticism on several occasions.

• In 2017, she raised the killing of Paresh Mesta at Uttara Kannada district, calling it communal and claiming that he had been tortured before murder. In 2021, the CBI concluded that Mesta's death was accidental.

• In January 2020, the Kerala Police registered a case over her tweet that alleged that Hindus of Malappuram's Kuttipuram Panchayat were denied water supply as they supported the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

• In 2020, she alleged "corona jihad" after several cases of COVID-19 were traced to the religious congregation of Tablighi Jamaat at Nizamuddin in Delhi.

• When she became a union minister in 2021, she deleted her posts on X (Twitter), several of which were on alleged cow slaughter and 'love jihad' incidents.

ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನ ನಗರ್ತರ ಪೇಟೆಯಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಮುಖೇಶ್ ಎನ್ನುವ ಹಿಂದೂ ಯುವಕ ತನ್ನ ಅಂಗಡಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಹನುಮಾನ್ ಚಾಲೀಸಾ ಹಾಕಿದ್ದಕ್ಕೆ ಕೆಲವು ಮತಾಂಧ ಮುಸ್ಲಿಂ ಪುಂಡರು ಮುಖೇಶ್ ಮೇಲೆ ಹಲ್ಲೆ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದು, ಅದನ್ನು ಖಂಡಿಸಿ ಇಂದು ನಗರ್ತರ ಪೇಟೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಹಿಂದೂ ಕಾರ್ಯಕರ್ತರೊಡನೆ ಪ್ರತಿಭಟಿಸಲಾಯಿತು.#Bjp #BjpKarnataka #BjpIndia #BengaluruNorth pic.twitter.com/upTutrF0gu

— Shobha Karandlaje (Modi Ka Parivar) (@ShobhaBJP) March 19, 2024

Professor Assadi compared her with former BJP MP from Bhopal, Pragya Singh Thakur, and said:

"I can compare Shobha with Pragya Singh, with respect to her speeches... Most of the time, her words are erratic. In most of her speeches on communal issues, she attributes it to Muslims. Shobha would only speak up when there's an element on Muslims involved... she wanted to create some kind of controversy so that would translate into political votes."

Professor Muzaffar Assadi to The Quint

Assadi believed that through her speeches, Karandlaje was able to consolidate Hindutva in the coastal bank of Karnataka. "She was able to bring in new categories into the Hindutva fold, like youngsters, students, women and others, who were already soft to the BJP," he said.

Shobha must learn from the FIRs filed against her, said Assadi. "She can't assume that she will be scot-free and can get away with her speeches. The government is very strong and might take strict action. She should be careful with what she says."

When asked if Karandlaje's statements affect the party in any way, BJP spokesperson Hodigere said, "There have been different ways in which those statements have been understood. I don't think there is anything that needs to be clarified further on that front, given that the minister has herself clarified..."

"Shobhakka did not say anything wrong. The truth is there is a lot of radicalisation in the Kerala borders. Don't you read the news of people joining ISIS? Didn't you read about the Rameshwaram blasts? Bengaluru needs to be saved from such elements..." a visibly angry BJP cadre said.

Speaking to The Quint, Congress MP candidate in Bengaluru North Rajeev Gowda said that Karandlaje is known for indulging in communal division and polarisation which people don't want in the constituency.

"They (BJP) don't have a track record to run on. What they thrive on is division, destruction, polarisation, hatred. That's their USP. So why would people want that? That's not Karnataka and politics. The last thing we want is for the area to become communally charged. Bengaluru people want to enjoy a good quality of life and grow and prosper. So, it's definitely in my favour."

The 60-year-old Gowda, who has been the national spokesperson for the AICC, is a former Reserve Bank of India director and IIM-B professor.

Bengaluru North: Is Shobha Karandlaje an 'Outsider?' 

Bengaluru North has consistently elected a BJP candidate since 2004 – and all of them, incidentally, were originally not from this constituency and were considered 'outsiders'.

After the constituency was re-drawn in 2008, it came to be known as a Vokkaliga stronghold. Since then, the BJP has nominated only Vokkaliga candidates here. This time, both Karandlaje and Gowda are Vokkaligas.

Syed Karim, a shopkeeper in Bengaluru North's RT Nagar, told The Quint, "DV Sadananda Gowda (incumbent BJP MP) was extremely accessible. It's sad that he didn't get a ticket. He also never indulged in hate speeches. I honestly do not know much about Shobha. Who is she to us? She is not one of us, so will she be able to understand our issues?"

BJP leaders in Bengaluru said that Karandlaje cannot be considered an "outsider," as she was elected as an MLA from Yeshvanthapura, which is part of the Bengaluru North constituency.

"The first time she contested elections, it was from Yeshvanthapura. She is one of us. We are in fact extremely happy that she is coming back to us. People here know her and connect with her really well. It's an easy win..."

A Vokkaliga BJP leader in Yeshvanthapura

Many voters The Quint spoke to in areas such as RT Nagar, Hebbal, KR Puram, and Malleshwaram said that while they were not well-aware of Shobha Karandlaje, they preferred to vote for the BJP due to the 'Modi factor.'

Seventy-year-old Balachandran, a former IAF officer, and resident of Malleshwaram said, "This is a national election. Of course, we are all upbeat to vote for Mr Narendra Modi and the BJP, who have done nothing but good work in the last 10 years."

Twenty-five-year-old Arpita, and her 23-year-old sister Arshita, residents of Hebbal, told The Quint: "Bengaluru has never had a woman MP. It's a matter of pride that Shobha Karandlaje is contesting from our constituency. We need more women leaders and it shows how the BJP is working towards their 'Nari Shakti' moto."

When asked about Karandlaje's hate speeches, Balachandran said, "Well, it's just a political tool. Even the Congress does it. In fact, they were the ones who started with minority appeasement."

Meanwhile, a first-time female voter, who completed her BSc in Nursing from RT Nagar, told The Quint that she would prefer voting for a party that works better for the development of the city.

"Bengaluru North is filled with issues such as poor sanitation, inadequate water supply, etc. We should focus on that and not on dividing communities. We must not encourage politicians like Shobha. Though this is a national election, Modi factor cannot be the only basis on which we choose our MPs. We need someone who is educated, who can actually deliver, and not someone who remains inaccessible."