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
@ Saboor,
Of course ppl will not forget if he did any good work at all..and ppl will not forget if he did'nt listen to them..so its vice-versa. He may have done good work in other places but if you are really from kana pls let me know one good
Dear Ansari,
What you think about Moidin, and What leasson will teach in 2018 election. people will not forget what good work he did for his constitution. He did lots of job for public in Surathkal - Kana area.
So keep quiet in political field you don't know politics.
Dear All,
Mr. Bawa came not for enjoying purpose. He came to Riyadh to participate in Beary Sangama Programme. After return to Mangalore he will finish the work pending in Surathkkal. So no one should worry about that.
He is a gentleman. Not like Palemar...
Ms. Vidya, why Palemar was watching blue films in assembly if he is good....he should have utilized his time in assembly for the progress of people of our constituency....they are all disaster....and same....
welcome to Riyadh ;)
People of this constitute will teach good lesson at 2018 election.
We appreciate Coastal Digest for bringing all political leaders issue without any partiality or any group wise like other chaddi paper of rss member.
Keep it up Coastal Digest
Jai Hind
Hahaha. I wholeheartedly congratulate Coastaldigest.com team for bringing this issue to light. Keep it up. expose more bearys and stop peeping into RSS chaddi.
# Vidya, If Palemar was better how he lost last election? Surathkal people will decide what to do and what not to do. Take care yourself at Dubai instead of nose in to non related matters by sitting in Dubai.
He is good for photo ops!!
Do we really need this kind of politicians? Palemar was million times better than him. Hope people of his constituency will teach him a good lesson in 2018.
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