Srikara Prabhu may replace Bhat in Mangalore South

Bellevision Media Network

Mangalore, 22 Mar 2013: Keeping with its tradition, the BJP is set to announce its candidates for eight Assembly constituencies in the district within two days.

 

The party had won Mangalore City South, Mangalore City North, Puttur and Sullia Assembly constituencies in the last Assembly election. Sullia is reserved for a candidate from the Scheduled Caste.

 

Sources said that the party had decided to field two-term MLA and former district in-charge minister J. Krishna Palemar from Mangalore City North, and S. Angara, a four-term MLA from Sullia.

 

Mangalore City South, represented by N. Yogish Bhat for four times, has another strong contender this time. Srikara Prabhu, president of Mangalore City South Assembly Committee of the BJP, has staked claim for the party ticket from the South. Sources in the party said the BJP was considering giving ticket to Mr. Prabhu, and fielding Mr. Bhat for the imminent Lok Sabha election.

 

ULB shock

The party had suffered a severe setback in this month’s elections to Mangalore City Corporation council in the South constituency, represented by Mr. Bhat, who is the Deputy Speaker in the Legislative Assembly. It managed to get only half of the total 22 seats it held under the South constituency in the 2007 elections to the council. The party, hence, is leaving no stone unturned to win back the voters.

 

Prestige battle in Puttur

Sources said that the party was making all efforts to retain the prestigious Puttur Assembly seat. In the last seven Assembly elections since 1983, the BJP had lost this constituency to the Congress only twice (1985, 1989).

 

Though rumours were rife a few days ago that the party might field the former Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda from Puttur, sources said he was not the frontrunner now. Names of K.T. Shailaja Bhat, former president of Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat, Sanjeeva Matandoor, an active party worker and a director in the Board of Campco, and Sudha, a doctor and the sister of Santosh, organising secretary of the State unit of the party, were doing the rounds now.

 

In Bantwal, the party is likely to field a wealthy farmer — Rajesh Naik of Oddoor Farms — against B. Ramanath Rai of the Congress; and in Moodbidri, chairman of Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy Umanath A. Kotian is likely to get the party ticket. The party is yet to decide a suitable candidate for Belthangady, the sources said.

 

Hopefuls and faithful queue up for Congress ticket

 

With the Election Commission of India announcing May 5 as Assembly election date, lobbying for tickets has intensified across political parties. The hopefuls have begun knocking the doors of persons who matter in their party.

 

But for surprise developments, the Congress is expected to field all four sitting legislators – the party’s district president Ramanath Rai in Bantwal, Abhayachandra Jain in Moodbidri, U.T. Khader in Mangalore (Ullal) and Vasanth Bangera in Belthangady.

 

Bangera reluctant

However, Mr. Bangera is understood to have indicated his unwillingness to contest because of health reasons. Party sources said Mr. Bangera, a Billava strongman in the area, may have the final say in the choice of the candidate if he opts out. The former MP Vinaya Kumar Sorake and Belthangady Congress Block president Harish Kumar are said to be frontrunners for the ticket here.

 

The constituency has a large number of Billava voters.

 

Tricky question

Who will take on the BJP’s Krishna J. Palemar in Mangalore North (Surathkal) appears to be a tricky question for the party. The sources said that about 15 party workers have sought tickets, including zilla panchayat member Mamata Gatti and Moideen Bava, who lost in the last elections. If the Congress decides to field a woman, it could be the new entrant to the party, Shakunthala Shetty from Puttur.

 

Other contenders include former legislator Vijayakumar Shetty, the former KPCC Secretary Mohammed Badruddin, and the former mayor Shashidhar Hegde.

 

Also in the contention in Puttur are Block Congress president Hemanath Shetty, its former president Sudhakar Shetty, and nominated member of one of the local boards of the Reserve Bank of India Naveen Bhandary, according to party sources. Mr. Sorake, too, is said to be keen to contest from here.

 

Lobo factor

Whether party leader Ivan D’Souza, who lost in Mangalore City South in May 2008 elections, will get the ticket this time remains to be seen. Mr. D’Souza and his supporters have made it no secret that they are unhappy with the entry of former bureaucrat J.R. Lobo, who may pip him (Mr. D’Souza) in the bargain for the ticket as he reportedly enjoys the support of some party bigwigs.

 

Sullia strongman

The sources said in Sullila, S. Raghu, who had contested last time, continues to be a strong contender.

- The Hindu