M’lore: Who will win Assembly Elections? Congress Candidate J R Lobo or BJP Candidate Yogish

By Robert D Costa
Bellevision Media Network

Mangalore, 4 May 2013: The political parties concluded their campaign at 5.00pm on Friday May 3, for the upcoming assembly elections as per the directives of Election Commission (EC). 

J R Lobo, Congress candidate contesting from Mangalore south constituency concluded the campaign with a mega walkathon in the city ahead of EC deadline.  He was accompanied by KPCC general secretary Ivan D’Souza, Congress veteran leaders and a large number of party workers. 

Yogish Bhat, BJP candidate and four-time MLA contesting from Mangalore south constituency also concluded the campaign with a walkathon beginning from Kudroli to Venkataramana Temple Square, here on Friday evening.  He was accompanied by BJP district president Srikar Prabhu, local BJP leaders corporator Poornima, Mannagudda corporator Rajendra, Monappa Bhandary, Guru and hundreds of party activists.

 

 

The concluding of election campaign sealed the fate of all the candidates that will be decided by the voters on Sunday May 5 and counting of votes and announcement of result on Wednesday May 8.

Mangalore south constituency has gained significance in this assembly election because the bureaucrat-turned-politician J R Lobo is contesting for the first time, while Yogish Bhat is running for fifth time.  Both are equally competent in their own respects, but J R Lobo has the edge over Yogish because the former has wide knowledge of infrastructural needs of the city and administrative experience in executing the works through different departmental channels.  The soft-spoken Yogish Bhat has clear record throughout his political career that has earned him support for successive four-terms.

If one views the recent poll outcome of municipal body, Congress has bagged the majority after five-year term that signifies twist in the choice of voters.  Its owing to this twist, the upcoming assembly election has gained much significance.  Congress is on the one hand, campaigned aggressively and enthusiastically in the election campaign because of victory in civic polls.  Nevertheless, BJP too did not lack behind but they too followed their own strategy in wooing the voters.  The supporters of both candidates used services of sending mass SMS and e-mails to targeted voters in their respective constituency.  The bombarding means of campaign of the past was minimal, but the literate/educated voters cannot be coaxed by any means so easily is a message that democracy is nearing maturity to decide their choice out of free will. 

Both the candidates targeted the educated youth who form major share of total voters by modern means of communication.  Meanwhile, the general awareness on franchising precious votes by each voter that are organized by district administration is likely to make its effect in the voters’ turnout. 

To conclude, none knows for sure who will get majority in the most significant Mangalore south constituency till the voters cast their votes and the EC authorities announce the results that will be a milestone in the history of this constituency. 
Let us wait till then.