The Udupi-Chikmagalur parliamentary constituency, which is going for the bi-election to fill the seat vacated with the resignation of Chief Minister DV Sadananda Gowda, is all set for a high-stake contest between the BJP and the Congress.
It would be a matter of prestige for DV Sadananda Gowda to win back the seat vacated by him and thereby prove that he can win elections for BJP. Remember, he oversaw the first electoral defeat as the Chief Ministership in Bellary, where Sriramulu made the ruling party eat the dust.
At the same time, the principal ruling party at the Centre, the Congress, is striving to increase its tally in order to keep its own UPA allies like Mamatha’s Trinamool Congress, under control. Compared to previous elections Congress in the constituency has held a few consultative meetings to choose an unanimous candidate.
Yet again, all eyes are on former Minister Jayaprakash Hegde who had lost the elections to DV Sadananda Gowda, by a narrow margin of around 18,000 votes. Even in Congress, except Vinay Kumar Sorake (who is giving a tough fight to Hegde), all leaders are likely to zero in on Hegde. By fielding Hegde, Congress will try to reap the sympathy factor, as Hegde had lost two previous elections (one each at Kundapura assembly constituency and Udupi-Chikmagalur).
As he is a widely known face across the constituency, even AICC general secretary and a local stalwart Oscar Fernandes and MLC Pratapchandra Shetty, who has a say in the Kundapur region will through their weight behind Hegde. Congress leaders BK Hariprasad, Taradevi Siddartha and BL Shankar are the other possible names doing rounds.
On the BJP side, Udupi District BJP Udaya Kumar Shetty, Chikamagalur District BJP President Pranesh, State BJP Yuva Morcha President and former Karkala MLA Sunil Kumar, Mahila Morcha leader Sheela Sheety’s have emerged as contenders. But Sunil Kumar seems to have an edge over the rest due to a number of factors, the important being his caste. He belongs to Billava community, which has a considerable presence in the constituency.
For the state BJP under the leadership of DVS, it will be a big task to keep former CM BS Yedyurappa, a Lingayat leader, active within their camp, as Lingayats too are in considerable number in Chikmagalur district. Udupi MLA Raghupathi Bhat, an active force in Udupi District BJP is with Sunil Kumar and it seems Udaya Kumar Shetty has already withdrawn his claim for the party ticket, much before the announcement of the poll calendar. Interestingly JD(S) has announced to contest on its own and the number of votes the party candidate secures would play a vital role in the outcome in the event of a close contest.
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