Delimitation has also damaged the BJP's chances. Key areas have shifted out of the constituency after delimitation. Kodagu, which is now part of Mysore constituency, is a BJP stronghold and its voters opted for the BJP no matter who the candidate was.
In the last five Lok Sabha elections, voters in Kodagu gave the BJP a lead of about 50,000 votes.
Thanks to delimitation, areas like Belthangady and Moodubidri have become part of the Dakshina Kannada constituency. This is advantageous for the Congress as the party secured a majority of votes from these two places.
The attacks on churches last September has made Christians move away from the BJP. During the Karnataka assembly election last year, many Christians had voted for the BJP in Mangalore.
However, a few months after the election, the churches were attacked. The Christians blamed the BJP government for its failure to protect the community.
A few weeks later came the notorious attack on women in a pub by the Sri Ram Sene. And though the BJP denied any links with the Sene, the state government was blamed for its lethargic response, especially by young voters.
Walter Nandalike, managing director and editor-in-chief, Daijiworld, in Mangalore, says the Christian mindset has changed this past year and there is great insecurity as a result of which the community may not vote for the BJP.
Image: Congress candidate B Janardhan Poojary interacts with supporters.
Also see: 'National election has become a local election' | India Votes 2009
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