Bengaluru: Puttur Assembly constituency of Dakshina Kannada District has gained importance this time for many reasons. After 2008, a three-cornered contest is all set to be held here, which has made the voters’ decision crucial. Further, the reason for the upped curiosity is that all the three major contestants are original BJP members!
Here BJP has given ticket to Asha Thimmappa Gowda instead of sitting MLA Sanjeeva Matandoor. Ashok Rai, a Former BJP member, has been given a Congress ticket to contest against them, and Arun Kumar Puttila, a leader of Hindu organisation, who has rebelled against the BJP.
Puttur Assembly constituency is BJP’s powerhouse. This constituency fielded the first BJP MLA in the Assembly through late Rama Bhatt. But today BJP is a divided house in this constituency, and also there is a rebellion in BJP at home of BJP State President. Therefore, those who were staunch supporters of the party have challenged the BJP and entered the election fray.
The frontline leaders who have sacrificed a lot for the party for several years are all set to tie the horse of BJP! Former Chief Minister D. V. Sadananda Gowda’s aide Ashok Rai has joined hands with the Congress as he has displeasure on BJP over its negligence towards him. Ashok Kumar Rai, who finally got the ticket despite the Opposition in Congress, has entered the election fray. “Although I gave everything to the party for several years, I had to join Congress because I was cheated. Here the leaders who did not let go of my hand have given me a chance and respected me,” he said and has expressed his confidence that he is sure to win the Constituency and fly the Congress flag.
Puttur MLA Sanjeeva Matandoor already knew that he would not get the ticket this time. Thus, Arun Kumar Puttila, who was in the Hindu organisation for the last 30 years, was in the ticket race. Some leaders who worked for BJP in Puttur along with Arun Kumar were also in the aspirant list. On the other hand, BJP announced the name of Asha Thimmappa from Sullia Constituency as the candidate for the constituency. This issue has pushed the Puttur BJP into rebellion.
Arun Kumar Puttila, who was expecting a ticket, has now entered the fray as an independent candidate. Along with him, other aspirants have also supported Puttila. Till now BJP had won here on the basis of Hindutva, which is the victory achieved by the efforts of Hindutva fighters. The agenda behind Arun Puttila’s contest is to show the BJP, which is forgetting Hindutva, by winning on the basis of Hindutva.
Asha Thimmappa, the official candidate of the BJP, has been an active politician in the BJP since the 80s. Starting from Gram Panchayat, she worked as Zilla Panchayat President. At present, there is disagreement within the BJP party about her candidature. Even if the BJP stalwarts vote for the party, there is every possibility of a vote split between Ashok Rai and Arun Puttila, who have given a helping hand through Hindutva and the Trust. The voters are keenly awaiting the contest between the three members in Puttur, who have Sangh Parivar connect.