BJP national general secretary Bandi Sanjay’s entry as the saffron party candidate from Karimnagar assembly constituency has sharpened the political lines. Sanjay, known as a Hindu hardline face, evokes strong emotions across the political divide in this communally sensitive area. His candidature came in the wake of his removal as state BJP president, which was perceived as a de-escalation in the state BJP’s aggression against the BRS government. Sanjay, however, underplayed his removal and expressed his commitment to work hard for the party. He also responded to accusations of being a polarizing figure and emphasized his efforts to work for all constituents. The Karimnagar assembly seat has about 3.5 lakh voters, including around 70,000 Muslims. Sanjay’s rise from being a local corporator to winning the Karimnagar LS seat has been a big success story for him and the party. But his removal as state BJP chief has dented his public standing and demoralized many of his supporters. Despite this setback, some supporters hope that Sanjay’s ‘grounding’ could earn him a sympathy factor in the polls. Sanjay is pitted against BRS MLA G Kamalakar, who is a state minister known for his elaborate network and deep pockets.