Chitradurga
(Karnataka), Apr 11: Banking on right caste equations and highlighting the
non performance of Congress were the BJP plank in this traditional congress
fort.
The absence of pro-Hindutva mood also seem to go the Congress
way though the BJP is leaving no stone unturned to breach the Congress
stronghold.
In 2013 assembly elections, Congress show was good in the district and in the subsequent parliamentary polls also party retaining its hold when BN Chandrappa won the seat braving the ‘Narendra Modi wave’ elsewhere in the country.
But desperate to return to power, the saffron party has applied all electoral games in the book and possibly a few out of box methodologies also to put up a respectable show in six constituencies in the district.
“In the general seat Hosadurga under the district, we have fielded a Scheduled Caste community leader Hosadurga MLA Goolihatti Shekar. This only shows BJP commitment and high respect for the deprived communities and we are sure to win this seat,” says BJP district unit spokesman Nagraj Bhedre.
Mr Shekhar, a former Sports Minister, who had once rebelled against the then chief minister and the present state BJP president B S Yeddyurappa, is pitted against Congress minister and senior leader B G Govindappa, a Kruba leader.
According to BJP poll strategists, the party is confident of retaining Chitradurga assembly seat where the sitting legislator G H Thippareddy has been fielded yet again.
The surprise in the entire pack from BJP’s scheme of things came when it decided to field B Sreeramulu, party's Ballari MP and a popular leader from the neighbouring district.
Mr Sreeramulu, a top leader of the ST Nayakas, who will be fighting from Molakalmuru is expected to swing votes in the entire Chitradurga district, a known Congress bastion.
Sreeramulu was a close aide of mining baron G Janardhanan Reddy.
The Congress workers also know that with the coming of Sreeramalu into the fray, the fight for Scheduled Tribe Molakalmuru has turned quite complex and tough.
However, Congress district level president of party’s Backward Class cell G Manohor says – most of the BJP calculations would go disarray because “Chitradurga district has always stayed away from communal politics of BJP".
In fact, he insists that for many Congress workers one big satisfaction of working in this district are that even in the peak of BJP’s popularity riding 'Modi wave', the Congress was able to win the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.
“Traditionally we are strong in this district and we will retain our hold,” says Mr Manohor adding the grand old party will be certainly able to win key seats like Holalkere (SC reserved), Challakere (ST reserved) and Hiriyur.
The Congress strategists point out as many 20 people have emerged as ticket aspirants in Chitradurga assembly seat itself.
This shows Congress prospects are bright, says one of them.
“The BJP has fielded sitting member Thippareddy. The caste equations suggest we should opt for Dhoda Nagaya, an OBC from Golay (or Yadav) constituency,” says one of them adding the Chitradurga assembly segment has about 25,000 Golay caste community voters.
Many citizens endorse these views of the Congress leader. “It is true there is no Hindutva influence here. This makes Congress task easier and so BJP is on weak footing in our district,” says Aslam Ansari, a restaurant owner in Chitradurga- Chalalkere road.
However, Ansari says the Congress could opt for a Muslim candidate as the constituency has about 35,000 Muslim voters.
“I think, the Congress will have to field Mahboob Pasha, a relative of Congress veteran C K Jaffer Sharief," he opines.
But BJP leaders insist the Congress negligence of development would be crucial factors in deciding this year’s elections
in Chitradurga district.
“The medical college sanctioned by our BJP government did not see the light of the day. The Congress simply neglected in this district and played politics of caste,” says BJP district unit spokesman Mr Bedre. UNI
In 2013 assembly elections, Congress show was good in the district and in the subsequent parliamentary polls also party retaining its hold when BN Chandrappa won the seat braving the ‘Narendra Modi wave’ elsewhere in the country.
But desperate to return to power, the saffron party has applied all electoral games in the book and possibly a few out of box methodologies also to put up a respectable show in six constituencies in the district.
“In the general seat Hosadurga under the district, we have fielded a Scheduled Caste community leader Hosadurga MLA Goolihatti Shekar. This only shows BJP commitment and high respect for the deprived communities and we are sure to win this seat,” says BJP district unit spokesman Nagraj Bhedre.
Mr Shekhar, a former Sports Minister, who had once rebelled against the then chief minister and the present state BJP president B S Yeddyurappa, is pitted against Congress minister and senior leader B G Govindappa, a Kruba leader.
According to BJP poll strategists, the party is confident of retaining Chitradurga assembly seat where the sitting legislator G H Thippareddy has been fielded yet again.
The surprise in the entire pack from BJP’s scheme of things came when it decided to field B Sreeramulu, party's Ballari MP and a popular leader from the neighbouring district.
Mr Sreeramulu, a top leader of the ST Nayakas, who will be fighting from Molakalmuru is expected to swing votes in the entire Chitradurga district, a known Congress bastion.
Sreeramulu was a close aide of mining baron G Janardhanan Reddy.
The Congress workers also know that with the coming of Sreeramalu into the fray, the fight for Scheduled Tribe Molakalmuru has turned quite complex and tough.
However, Congress district level president of party’s Backward Class cell G Manohor says – most of the BJP calculations would go disarray because “Chitradurga district has always stayed away from communal politics of BJP".
In fact, he insists that for many Congress workers one big satisfaction of working in this district are that even in the peak of BJP’s popularity riding 'Modi wave', the Congress was able to win the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.
“Traditionally we are strong in this district and we will retain our hold,” says Mr Manohor adding the grand old party will be certainly able to win key seats like Holalkere (SC reserved), Challakere (ST reserved) and Hiriyur.
The Congress strategists point out as many 20 people have emerged as ticket aspirants in Chitradurga assembly seat itself.
This shows Congress prospects are bright, says one of them.
“The BJP has fielded sitting member Thippareddy. The caste equations suggest we should opt for Dhoda Nagaya, an OBC from Golay (or Yadav) constituency,” says one of them adding the Chitradurga assembly segment has about 25,000 Golay caste community voters.
Many citizens endorse these views of the Congress leader. “It is true there is no Hindutva influence here. This makes Congress task easier and so BJP is on weak footing in our district,” says Aslam Ansari, a restaurant owner in Chitradurga- Chalalkere road.
However, Ansari says the Congress could opt for a Muslim candidate as the constituency has about 35,000 Muslim voters.
“I think, the Congress will have to field Mahboob Pasha, a relative of Congress veteran C K Jaffer Sharief," he opines.
But BJP leaders insist the Congress negligence of development would be crucial factors in deciding this year’s elections
in Chitradurga district.
“The medical college sanctioned by our BJP government did not see the light of the day. The Congress simply neglected in this district and played politics of caste,” says BJP district unit spokesman Mr Bedre. UNI
