Bengaluru: BJP leader Anantkumar Hegde represented Uttara Kannada Lok Sabha segment in Karnataka for six terms and now gynecologist Anjali Nimbalkar is putting up a spirited fight seeking to turn the tide and "deliver" it for the Congress.
Dr Nimbalkar is taking on former Karnataka Assembly Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri, who replaced Hegde, in this BJP stronghold.
A former Congress MLA, she lost the Assembly elections from Khanapur in Belagavi district last year.
The 62-year-old Kageri, a six-term MLA and a former minister, was also defeated in the Assembly polls from Sirsi.
"In the past 30 years, the voice of Uttara Kannada was not spoken and not even a single question was asked in the Parliament," Nimbalkar said in an apparent dig at Hegde.
If elected, she said her focus is to address the local issues related to forest dwellers, getting them 'patra' for their own land -- a battle they have been fighting for long.
Also on her priority list is getting a multispecialty hospital in Kumta as per people's demand, generating employment and focusing on tourism for the overall development of Uttara Kannada.
"Issues related to forest dwellers -- they want a 'patra' for their own land -- we will try and put forth these issues in the first session itself and we will see to it that maximum applications which are pending with the Central government get cleared during the first session itself," she said in an interview.
"So, our thing is that at least 50 per cent of the jobs should be given to the local Kannadigas in the Central schemes which are implemented in the district," she said.
Noting that Uttara Kannada has a combination of both beaches and temples, Nimbalkar said the district can be developed internationally in a much higher scale than "what actually Goa or Kerala is".
The Congress candidate is also banking on the five guarantee schemes launched by the Siddaramaiah-led government in Karnataka and the promises made by party in its manifesto at the national level.
Responding to a question, she expressed happiness that the Congress has fielded a total of six women candidates out of 28 Lok Sabha constituencies in Karnataka.
While campaigning, Nimbalkar said she was overwhelmed to see a large number of people, especially women, turning up for her rallies despite the intense heat in Uttara Kannada.
"They are very happy that the Congress has given a woman candidate and an educated candidate who herself is a doctor and a gynecologist. So they are excited that, yes, she can be our voice in the Parliament who can fight for our rights," the 47-year-old said.
"I have worked as an MLA (Khanapur), so they have seen my work in the Assembly and the expectations are like, yes, she will be the one who will be speaking for us and that faith is seen in their eyes," she said.
Nimbalkar strongly believes that when women enter any field, it brings a different perspective - be it in terms of management, policy formulation or even as homemakers.
Uttara Kannada is among the 14 constituencies going for polls in Karnataka under second phase on May 7.
Karnataka has 28 Lok Sabha seats and the first phase of polling was held on April 26.
Comments
Not only rapists.. Modi trying to protect all saffron major terrorists. anybody arguing that modi not tried to protect, then answer me for these -
Many saffron criminals convicted in terror and communal activity aquitted under modi rule.
Recenlty aseemananda aquitted in Mecca Masjid case, before aseemananda only revealed that he did such terror activities and now NIA found that no evidence...!
Aseemananda's many cases NIA closing one by one for giving complete clean chit
There are many incidents for NIA acting as a saffron tool
In Justice Loya murder case why Amit Shah not get arrested till now and they are making favourable condition by keeping saffron minded lawyers
If Modi and his bakths not the reason/responsible for the hike in numbers, then why modi scared of public? He came to power by boasting and public speeches, and after getting power he hardly faced public. And now he didnt speak on this shocking kathua rape inncident. And also at the same time he trying to protest those rapists.
It is baseless criticism that rapes are increasing under modi rule. Mr. Yogesh said the real reason behind this hue and cry after knowing the incident
One correction is there.. Under UPA rule rape issues were there much but not reported or complainted this much. Those issues are became unknown. Either girl hesitated to complain or there is no much evidence for that.
People and media not thinking about this and unwantedly blaming Modi rule
Every where rape issues.. Daily I am reading atleast 3 rape issues..
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