Hubballi: The spark of ‘Lingayat self-esteem’ ignited by Jagadish Shettar, who left the BJP and joined the Congress at the last minute, has changed the image of the election arena in Dharawad District.
The Congress is eager to gain confidence of the Lingayat community through Jagadish Shettar which has distanced from them in last Assembly elections. On the other hand, the BJP is struggling to retain the community that has fuelled it for so many years.
Although Shettar represents the Hubballi-Dharawad Central Constituency, the ‘spark of self-esteem’ ignited by him has been seen in all the seven Assembly constituencies of the District. There is a direct fight between BJP and Congress in all the constituencies, while JD (S) is fighting for its existence.
The BJP denied ticket to Shettar even though he strived hard to build the party. Shettar thus has gained sympathy claiming that denying ticket is an insult to his community and not to him. Shettar’s gentle, soft-spoken, and down-to-earth charisma will come in handy.
Congress is sweating to consolidate its community votes with the traditional votes of Dalits, Muslims and Christians.
Shettar’s inclusion in the opposition camp has given a shock to the BJP. BJP is trying to portray Shettar as a back-stabber of the party. To do ‘damage control’, the party has fielded Mahesh Tenginakai who belongs to the same community. The name of Tenginakai, who was involved in the organisation of the party, was rarely heard outside the party. He was in party organisation and has staunch supporters. He is also depending on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister Amit Shah, Former Chief Minister Yediyurappa, and Pralhad Joshi’s popularity to win in the constituency.
In Hubballi-Dharawad East Reserve Constituency MLA Prasad Abbayya has entered the fray from the Congress. With the addition of Shettar along with the traditional votes of the party, the Congress will also attract Lingayat votes. He is confident that this will help him win a hat-trick. Dr. Kranthi Kiran from BJP has entered the fray for the first time. He has trusted the party organisation and staunch supporters.
Unable to get BJP ticket this time another Dalit Leader Veerbhadrappa Halaharavi has joined JD (S) and there is a possibility of him denting BJP votes.
Sitting MLA, Panchamasali Lingayat Samaj’s Leader Arvind Bellada has re-entered the fray from the BJP in Hubballi-Dharawad West Constituency.
Municipal Corporation Mayor Eresha Anchatageri, who tried for ticket from the BJP, stayed away from the election. Deepak Chinchore from the Brahmin community has entered the fray from the Congress. Basavaraja Malakari, who was a Congress rebel candidate has remained in the fray as a non-party candidate and ticket-deprived aspirants not appearing in the campaign will be a setback for Chinchore.
In Dharawad sitting MLA, BJP’s Amrita Desai is back in the fray. Tavanappa, who was aspirant for BJP ticket, has joined the Congress , which would be a setback for BJP. Vinaya Kulkarni of Congress, who was his opponent in the last election, has contested again. Vinaya Kulkarni has been exiled from the District in connection with the murder case of Zilla Panchayat member Yogeesh Gowda and Vinay Kulkarni s wife Shivaleela Kulkarni is campaigning in constituency. Vinaya is confident that the development work done during the period of 2013-18 will help him win.
Chikkana Gowda from Panchmasali Lingayat community who rebelled from BJP and is contesting as an independent has the made the fight made triangular in the arena. There is a possibility that BJP’s M. R. Patil’s votes will be split due to the competition from him. The rivalry between the two is likely to favour the Congress candidate, and sitting MLA Kusumavati Shivalli from the Kuruba community contesting from Congress. But eight leaders of her party have defected against Kusumavati, which may affect the election results.
Among the MLAs deprived of BJP ticket along with Shettar are C. M. Nimbannavara. In Kalaghatagi constituency Nagaraj Chhabbi is contesting from BJP after he failed to get Congress ticket. Nagaraj Chhabbi, who joined BJP at the last minute, has been given a ticket by the BJP. Santhosh Lad of Congress, who worked with him in the last election, is contesting against him. There were many ticket aspirants in BJP including Nimbanna. At the last moment, Chhabbi, who came from Congress, was given a ticket, which led to internal dissatisfaction. There is a possibility of an internal blow to the BJP.
In Navalagunda, sitting MLA Sankara Patila Munenakoppa of Panchamasali Lingayat community and N. H. Konareddi of Reddi Lingayat Samaja is contesting from Congress. There is fierce competition between Kuruba Samaj’s Leader K. N. Gaddi, who joined JD (S) after he failed to get ticket from Congress. If he takes the votes of the community with him, it may be difficult for Konreddi. To make up for this loss, Konareddi is campaigning with Vinod Asooty of Kuruba community. It is interesting that Shivananda Karigara of Kuruba Samaj, who has withdrawn his nomination, has not disclosed to whom he will offer his support.