Bengaluru: Yeshwanthpur Assembly constituency is one of the constituencies in Bengaluru city represented by Congress. The incumbent MLA S.T. Somasekhar is considered as a close aide of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
In 2008, BJP candidate Shobha Karandlaje defeated S.T. Somasekhar who contested on a Congress ticket. However, in 2013 Shobha Karandlaje after shifting loyalty to Karnataka Janata Party (KJP) started by former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, preferred to contest from Rajajinagar instead of Yeshwanthpur. This helped Somasekhar, the Congress candidate, to romp home with a huge majority of 29,100 votes. The nearest rival for Congress was Janata Dal (Secular) candidate T.N. Javarayi Gowda who polled 91,280 votes. BJP candidate H.L. Krishnapp got only 12,747 votes.
Yeshwanthpur is a misnomer given the fact that the old urban pockets of Yeshwanthpur do not form part of the constituency. For example, though the assembly constituency name is Yeshwanthpur, its jurisdiction begins from Kengeri, Ullal and extends to Doddbidarakallu, Harohalli and Hemmigepura.
Yeshwanthpur which earlier formed part of the Malleswaram constituency had always been in the centre-stage of Assembly elections given its thickly populated wards.
Meanwhile, MLA S.T. Somasekhar, who played a key role in ensuring Congress power at the BBMP Council, has succeeded in taking up various developmental works and constructed houses for Scheduled Castes and Tribes people in the constituency. With the support of Mayor Padmavathi, Somasekhar has managed to get maximum funds from the BBMP to take up civil works such as strengthening drains, asphalting the roads and constructing homes for needy people in the constituency.
“The present MLA has taken a lot of initiatives to ensure good and motorable roads in the constituency. Most of the areas in this constituency are newly added to the BBMP. I know there is a lot to be done as far as the infrastructure is concerned. I am confident of MLA to take up all the pending works as early as possible,’’ said Krishne Gowda, a resident of Kengeri.
There are only five BBMP wards in Yeshwanthpur assembly constituency. While Congress corporators won from three wards – Doddabidarakallu, Harohalli and Hemmigapura – BJP has retained two wards Kengeri and Ullal. The residents have no issues on the coordination between Congress and BJP leaders when it comes to development of the constituency.
“Somasekhar has no issues with BJP corporators like how Rajarajeswari Nagar MLA Munirathna is involved in the controversy of non-cooperation with corporators of other political parties. I will vote for Somasekhar in the next Assembly elections. I consider him as a no-nonsense person,’’ opines Keshava Murthy N, a resident of Ullal.
There were rumours on Shobha Karandlaje contemplating to contest from Yeshwanthpur in the next Assembly elections scheduled April or May in 2018. Political analysts opine that winning from Yeshwanthpur would not be a hassle for Shobha since she has already represented and nurtured this constituency.
If BJP high command gives consent to Shobha Karandlaje, MP from Udupi-Chikmagalur parliament segment, from Yeshwanthpur to the State Assembly, the present incumbent (Congress MLA S.T. Somasekhar) has to do some homework on how to retain this seat. Many in the constituency opine that Somasekhar will get Cabinet berth if Congress comes to power in the next Assembly election.
“Somasekhar was almost in during the last Cabinet expansion but failed to make it due to pressure from Congress MLAs Byrathi Basavaraj and Munirathna,’’ said Narayana Gowda, a resident of Kengeri.
All in all, Somasekhar is set to romp the home if the BJP and the JD(S) fail to field suitable and potential candidates in the next Assembly election.
