Udupi: Voters Begin Speculation on Assembly Poll Outcome in 5 Constituencies of District

By Snehalatha, Udupi
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 13 Apr 2013: The upcoming elections in 5 legislative assembly constituencies of Udupi district this year has been filled with suspense.  All these legislative assembly constituencies have witnessed unexpected developments soon after announcement of assembly elections. Besides, it is likely to have unexpected results that has been the issue widely discussed in the local media.

 

Udupi:

The political situation changed overnight, no sooner the alleged sex CD of MLA Raghupati Bhat made headlines in the media.  Its owing to this episode, MLA Bhat has chosen not to contest in the upcoming assembly elections and BJP issued ticket to Sudhakr Shetty to contest the assembly elections.

 

  
Raghupathi Bhat, Sudhakara Shetty, Pramod Madwaraj

 

MLA Bhat has determined to support Sudhakar Shetty during the election campaign to regain his lost respect, besides the BJP local activists are alleging that Congress party is being faking the CD.  The general opinion will have bearing in the elections outcome.

 

Kundapur:

The former BJP MLA Halady Srinivas Shetty who rebelled against the party over not giving cabinet berth in state legislature, contesting as independent candidate.  He commands larger support of local BJP leaders, the members of zilla panchayat, taluk panchayat and gram panchayats.  This has adverse effect on BJP election campaign owing to boycotting.

 

 
Halady Srinivas Shetty

 

All these years, there has been direct competition between BJP and Congress, but this time, both these parties had to face Halady Srinivas as opponent.  Owing to this, the voters seemed to be anxious over election results.

 

Karkal:

The sitting MLA Gopal Bhandary will have to face direct competition from BJP former MLA Sunil Kumar in the upcoming assembly elections.  The congress waves across the state are favouring Gopal while state BJP is in support of Sunil Kumar.

 

 
Gopal Bhandary, Sunil Kumar

 

Sunil Kumar was defeated by Gopal in the last assembly elections and also defeated by Congress candidate Jayaprakash Hegde in parliamentary elections held during 2012 for Udupi – Chikmagalur constituency.  The voters are eager to anticipate the results since Sunil who faced setbacks twice in the past.

 

Byndoor:

The sitting BJP MLA K Laxminarayan was denied ticket this time for anti-party activities, instead BJP has issued ticket to Sukumar Shetty, former managing trustee of Mookambika temple, Kollur.  The voters are awaiting the poll outcome owing to the tussle of big time local politicians.

 

 
Sukumar Shetty, Gopal Poojary

 

Congress former MLA Gopal Poojary is contesting the assembly elections this time, and to be qualified for this he had resigned to the post of district president that he held.