Rebels could hit Congress’ chances in Uttara Kannada
05:43AM Wed 1 May, 2013
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JDS candidate Inayatullah Shabandri campaigning at Bhatkal[/caption]
"Congress candidate J.D. Naik, who won the 2008 elections, however, may take advantage of the anti-incumbency factor. He faces a tough fight from Inayathulla Shabandri of the JD(S) in Bhatkal Assembly constituency. Mankali Vaidya of the Congress has rebelled against the party on being denied ticket, which could favour Mr. Shabandri."
Karwar Assembly constituency in Uttara Kannada is poised for a keen contest in the Assembly elections as the attention is on the rebel factor in the Congress, which could take away the party’s advantage vis-à-vis the anti-incumbency factor.
An opportunity to ensure a straight fight between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress in Karwar was lost when the latter denied the party ticket to Satish Krishna Sail and chose to field Ramanand Naik who they perceived to be a “clean hand”.
Mr. Sail has rebelled against the party and is contesting as an Independent candidate. Many Congressmen have been openly canvassing for Mr. Sail, who has been associated with some pro-people and pro-environment protests. Mr. Sail is also an accused in the Belekeri port iron ore theft case.
Political observes attribute the denial of party ticket to Mr. Sail to power politics between Congress leader R.V. Deshpande and Margaret Alva, Governor of Rajasthan, who reportedly wants to hold sway over Uttar Kannada’s political landscape where her father-in-law, the late Joachim Alva, was an MP.
It is said that this feud also led to denial of party ticket to District Congress Committee president Bheemanna Naik in Sirsi. The ticket was given to Deepak R. Honnavar, who joined the party only one month ago.
As the Congress is a divided house in the district, Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri, Minister for Primary and Second Education, faces a stiff challenge from Shashibhushan Hegde of the JD(S).
Mr. Deshpande is locked in a fight with MLA Sunil Hegde in Haliyal Assembly constituency. Having lost the previous elections to Mr. Hegde, Mr. Deshpande is going all out to pull the voters to his side. On his part, Mr. Hedge is keen to ensure that the anti-incumbency factor does not adversely impact his chances of retaining the seat.
In Kumta Assembly constituency, the Congress is perceived to have fielded a “weak” candidate by choosing Sharada Mohan Shetty, widow of the former MLA Mohan Shetty, allegedly because of the “Alva-Deshpande power politics”. Consequently, the fight is between Suraj Naik Soni (BJP) and Dinakar Keshav Shetty (JD(S).
Congress candidate J.D. Naik, who won the 2008 elections, however, may take advantage of the anti-incumbency factor. He faces a tough fight from Inayathulla Shabandri of the JD(S) in Bhatkal Assembly constituency. Mankali Vaidya of the Congress has rebelled against the party on being denied ticket, which could favour Mr. Shabandri.
In Yellapur Assembly constituency, MLA V.S. Patil of the BJP is facing his rival from the Congress Arabail Shivaram Hebbar. Anil Kumar of the JD(S) is also contesting.
Voters in Karwar have alleged that candidates were wooing voters by giving them money.
- The Hindu
JDS candidate Inayatullah Shabandri campaigning at Bhatkal[/caption]
"Congress candidate J.D. Naik, who won the 2008 elections, however, may take advantage of the anti-incumbency factor. He faces a tough fight from Inayathulla Shabandri of the JD(S) in Bhatkal Assembly constituency. Mankali Vaidya of the Congress has rebelled against the party on being denied ticket, which could favour Mr. Shabandri."
Karwar Assembly constituency in Uttara Kannada is poised for a keen contest in the Assembly elections as the attention is on the rebel factor in the Congress, which could take away the party’s advantage vis-à-vis the anti-incumbency factor.
An opportunity to ensure a straight fight between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress in Karwar was lost when the latter denied the party ticket to Satish Krishna Sail and chose to field Ramanand Naik who they perceived to be a “clean hand”.
Mr. Sail has rebelled against the party and is contesting as an Independent candidate. Many Congressmen have been openly canvassing for Mr. Sail, who has been associated with some pro-people and pro-environment protests. Mr. Sail is also an accused in the Belekeri port iron ore theft case.
Political observes attribute the denial of party ticket to Mr. Sail to power politics between Congress leader R.V. Deshpande and Margaret Alva, Governor of Rajasthan, who reportedly wants to hold sway over Uttar Kannada’s political landscape where her father-in-law, the late Joachim Alva, was an MP.
It is said that this feud also led to denial of party ticket to District Congress Committee president Bheemanna Naik in Sirsi. The ticket was given to Deepak R. Honnavar, who joined the party only one month ago.
As the Congress is a divided house in the district, Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri, Minister for Primary and Second Education, faces a stiff challenge from Shashibhushan Hegde of the JD(S).
Mr. Deshpande is locked in a fight with MLA Sunil Hegde in Haliyal Assembly constituency. Having lost the previous elections to Mr. Hegde, Mr. Deshpande is going all out to pull the voters to his side. On his part, Mr. Hedge is keen to ensure that the anti-incumbency factor does not adversely impact his chances of retaining the seat.
In Kumta Assembly constituency, the Congress is perceived to have fielded a “weak” candidate by choosing Sharada Mohan Shetty, widow of the former MLA Mohan Shetty, allegedly because of the “Alva-Deshpande power politics”. Consequently, the fight is between Suraj Naik Soni (BJP) and Dinakar Keshav Shetty (JD(S).
Congress candidate J.D. Naik, who won the 2008 elections, however, may take advantage of the anti-incumbency factor. He faces a tough fight from Inayathulla Shabandri of the JD(S) in Bhatkal Assembly constituency. Mankali Vaidya of the Congress has rebelled against the party on being denied ticket, which could favour Mr. Shabandri.
In Yellapur Assembly constituency, MLA V.S. Patil of the BJP is facing his rival from the Congress Arabail Shivaram Hebbar. Anil Kumar of the JD(S) is also contesting.
Voters in Karwar have alleged that candidates were wooing voters by giving them money.
- The Hindu
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