Uttara Kannada District Election Analysis- Indian Express

Anti-incumbency may hurt BJP while groupism haunts Congress in U-Kannada district While anti-incumbency haunts the ruling BJP, dissidence and groupism are posing problems for the Congress in Uttara Kannada district. It looks like the JD(S) is in a better position than the BJP and Congress and may give stiff competition to the two national parties at least in two or three constituencies. In some seats, the fight is direct while it is multi-cornered in others. Sirsi It may not be a smooth sailing for Primary and Secondary Education Minister Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri in Sirsi constituency. Recently, a group of veteran BJP leaders announced that they will not support Kageri saying that he sidelined local leaders. This may pose problems for the BJP. Shashibhushan Hegde, a relative of former chief minister late Ramakrishna Hegde, is the JD(S) candidate and is giving a stiff fight to Kageri. Brahmins and Namdaris dominate this constituency followed by Muslims and others. Congress candidate Deepak Honnavar is facing a tough time as DCC president Bhimanna Naik, who was a strong aspirant, did not get the ticket. Naik belongs to the Namdari community and enjoys their support. The Brahmin votes are likely to be divided among Kageri, Shashibhushan and KJP candidate Ravi Hegde. If electorate go by sympathy, Shashibhushan has an edge. Karwar Mine owner Satish Sail, who is contesting as an independent candidate following denial of a Congress ticket, is likely to give a tough fight to Science and Technology Minister Anand Asnotikar. Sail has been in the forefront demanding justice for evacuees of various projects and also against setting up of a thermal power plant in the district. Local Congress workers and leaders are rallying behind Sail and this is likely to impact Congress candidate Ramanand Naik. Komara Pantha and Halakki Gowda communities dominate the constituency. Voters complain that Asnotikar spent most of his time shuttling between Yeddyurappa’s camp and the BJP and failed to develop Karwar. Sanju Naik of the JD(S) may take some Namdari votes. Muslims are also likely to support Sail. Bhatkal The KJP is challenging the Congress in Bhatkal, a constituency held by the BJP for many years. Former MLA Shivananda Naik joined the KJP when he was denied BJP ticket. Sitting Congress MLA J D Naik is trying his best to retain the seat. The JD(S) has given its ticket to Inayatullah Shabadri, who is likely to take a sizeable number of Muslim votes which used to be part of the traditional Congress vote bank. Hindu Jagaran Manch district president Govinda Naik is the BJP candidate. Namdari votes are likely to be shared by BJP, JD(S) and Congress as all candidates belong to the community. Yellapur-Mundgod A multi-cornered fight is likely to be witnessed in this constituency. Sitting BJP legislator V S Patil has done tremendous development but is facing problems in getting support from local BJP leaders. Congress candidate Shivaram Hebbar is a mine owner. JD(S) candidate D Anil Kumar has done solid ground work much before the elections by organising the minority votes. Lingayats are more in number in Mundgod area while Namdaris and Brahmins are the deciding factor. Hebbar is eyeing Brahmin votes whereas Patil is hoping to get the support of Namdaris and Lingayats. Anil Kumar, a Namdari, is likely to get his community votes as well. Kumta A direct fight between the JD(S) and BJP is in the offing here. Sitting JD(S) MLA Dinakar Shetty has been following the ‘village stay’ plan of H D Kumaraswamy to woo voters. Dissidence brewed in the Congress over selection of its candidate as 19 people, who had applied for the ticket, are not working any more for party nominee Sharadha Shetty. As most of them are Namdaris, they may extend support to BJP candidate Sooraj Naik. KJP candidate Gayatri Gowda belongs to the Halakkis and may cash in on traditional votes that went to the JD(S) earlier. Indian Express