Mysore, April 11, 2013:
It seems ,the ruling BJP has been facing lack of a strong cadre base and recognizable leaders. It is forced to field new candidates in many of the assembly constituencies in Mysore district for the assembly elections on May5.
While the Congress which has traditional base in the district and the Janata Dal (Secular) are relying on winning horses to make an impact.
The BJP party, which won only two seats in the 2008 Assembly elections even when its political fortunes were on the upswing elsewhere in the State, is on the back foot this time, its image having been dented owing to a series of scams and internal squabbles besides three split.
While it has fielded new faces in Chamaraja, Varuna, H.D. Kote, Nanjangud and Chamundeshwari constituencies. the new comers like MR Annaiah nayak from Hunsur and Sanna moge gowda from Periyapatna but candidate for K R Nagara not yet decide
Urban Development Authority (MUDA) Chairman L. Nagendra has been allotted the ticket to contest from Chama raja constituency; the party has fielded Siddaraju, MLC, in H.D. Kote.
In Chamundeshwari, the party has fielded a newcomer, Hemanth Kumar, while in Varuna, S.D. Mahendra, Chairman, Karnataka Exhibition Authority (KEA), has been fielded. Shivaram former vice president of zilla panchyat is the party’s candidate from Nanjangud.
M.A. Mohan, a BJP activist, said that the party was identifying “new blood” and fielding new and young candidates.
“Though caste configuration in a constituency is factored in while allotting tickets, it is not the sole criteria,” he said.
But observers say that BJP has a problem allotting ticket as there aren’t many recognizable faces or candidates perceived as community leaders.
In the Krishna raja Assembly segment, S.A. Ramdas, three-time MLA, has been allotted the ticket. In Narasimharaja constituency, the party has experienced a revolt consequent to former KEA chairman B.P. Manjunath being given the ticket by sidelining another veteran E. Marutirao Pawar, former MLA.
Mr. Pawar has expressed his unhappiness at this development. Incidentally, Mr. Pawar who was elected MLA in 1994 quit the BJP to join the Janata Dal (Secular) in 2004 only to rejoin BJP again in 2008.
His next move will be watched with curiosity, both within and outside the party. C. Ramesh, former MLC, will contest from T. Narsipur.
The Congress, on the other hand, is depending on veterans. There is only one new face — Doddaswamy Gowda — who will contest from K.R. Nagar constituency.
The candidates in the other 10 constituencies except for the former Mayor Vasu, who is being fielded from Chamaraja constituency for the third time though he is yet to win, are seeking re-election.
Tanveer Sait and M.K. Somashekar, former MLA, are both contesting for the fourth time from Narasimharaja and Krishnaraja constituencies respectively.
Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Siddaramaiah and V. Srinivas Prasad will contest from Varuna and Nanjangud constituencies respectively.
Similarly, H.C. Mahadevappa will seek re-election from T. Narsipur, K. Venkatesh is being fielded from Periyapatna, Satyanarayana from Chamundeshwari constituency, who is contesting for the second time, H.P. Manjunath from Hunsur and Chikkanna from H.D. Kote, which is a reserved constituency.
JD(S) is yet to announce its candidates from Narasimharaja, Krishnaraja and Hunsur. The remaining eight candidates include G.T. Deve Gowda from Chamundeshwari, H.S. Shankarlinge Gowda from Chamaraja and S.R. Mahesh from K.R. Nagar, all of whom are political heavyweights.
