Udupi Bypolls: BJP’s Sunil Kumar up against Congress’ J P Hegde

PTI

New Delhi, 21 Feb 2012: BJP has fielded V Sunil Kumar as its candidate against Jay Prakash Hegde of the Congress for the Uduppi-Chikmaglur Lok Sabha constituency that fell vacant after D V Sadananda Gowda resigned from the seat, becoming Chief Minister of Karnataka.

 

 

BJP President Nitin Gadkari today announced Kumar’s nomination in a statement which said the party’s Karnataka unit had recommended his name.

 

Jay Prakash Hegde’s candidature was announced here by the AICC.

 

Gowda had resigned to take over the post after BJP asked B S Yeddyurappa to step down following his indictment by the Karnataka Lokayukta in a corruption case.

 

BJP is making all efforts to win this seat again which was represented by Gowda, who is now the chief minister of the state.

 

Congress high command finalised Hegde’s name for the March 18 bypoll after considering the report of a two-member committee set up for the purpose.

 

Last week, the committee comprising senior leaders H K Patil and V R Sudarshan had submitted its report to the party’s state unit and it was sent to the high command for finalising the candidate.

 

Udupi: Sunil Kumar (BJP) and Jayaprakash Hegde (Congress) to contest by-election
By Snehalatha, Udupi
 
Udupi, 22 February 2012: The curiosity as who will contest for the popular Udupi – Chickmagalur seat which became vacant after DVS became Chief Minister, has come to an end on Tuesday. Former Karkala MLA V. Sunil Kumar has succeeded in getting the ticket from BJP and from Congress Former Minister Jayaprakash Hegde’s name has been announced. Hence the field for the contest is set and the candidates have been fielded.

 
Both of these candidates are not new to politics, both have the experience of winning and then loosing as well. Though currently they have lost they have involved themselves in active politics. Now it has to be seen as who will break the shackle of loss. Jayaprakash Hegde had represented Congress and lost against D.V. Sadananda Gowda of BJP for this seat in 2009 with 27,018 votes. Sunil Kumar had lost to H. Gopal Bandhary of Congress in 2008 for Vidhana Sabha election in 2008.

 
Jayaprakash Hegde is in politics since 30 years, from 1994 to 2007 for 3 times (once from Janata Dal and 2 times as Independent) had entered Vidhana Sabha from Brahmavara constituency. From 1994 to 1999 in the Janata Dal government he was the Fisheries Minister. During his tenure Udupi became a separate district from D.K. In 2008 Brahmavara constituency got cancelled and contesting in the Kundapura Vidhana Sabha election he lost to BJP’s Haladi Shrinivasa Shetty.

 
Later in 2009 in the Udupi – Chickmagalur Lokasabha election he lost to D.V. Sadananda Gowda. Professionally a lawyer Hegde is the son of Judge H. Chandrashekar Hegde. His wife is Shobha, son Nishanth and daughter Divya. He has even tried his luck in KPL T20 cricket tournament being a part owner with a friend. Having no controversy in his political career Jayaprakash Hegde was in Janata Dal and when it was split he did not join any other party but contested as Indipendent candidate and won. Later upon change of political situation he joined to Congress, then lost election. Now he is trying his luck from the same party.

 
V. Sunil Kumar had his identity through All India Student Parishad, R.S.S. and later Bajarangadal. During 1997 Datta Peeta controversy he emerged as leader. During that time he was the spokes person. In 2004 Karkala Vidhana Sabha election he got elected to Vidhana Sabha. During that time his speeches on Hinduism and talks agaist the Sucheta Shetty murder has brought him victory.

 
But things did not work in 2008, so he lost the election to Congress candidate H. Gopala Bhandary. But still he is always active in politics with the party work and as the leader of youth BJP leader and always is in news and is close to the party leaders. Politics being his career and having the experience of being MLA once and is well known in Chickmagalur district, naturally he has got the ticket.