Mangaluru: As the assembly elections in Karnataka are just a few months away, several aspirants are going all out in their efforts to secure a ticket for themselves. In several constituencies of the Dakshina Kannada district, the aspirants have started their own way to please top brasses with a series of activities and the BJP is no different.
With veteran and former MLA Yogish Bhat deciding to stay away from the polls, there is a beeline of aspirants in the BJP for the Mangaluru South Constituency.
The people who are in the fray for an election ticket from the Mangaluru South Constituency are BJP South President D Vedhavyasa Kamath, BJP State Executive Committee member and Karavali Education Institution Chairman Ganesh Rao, State Industries Cell Assistant Convener Badrinath Kamath, and BJP District General Secretary Brijesh Chowta among others.
The Mangaluru South Constituency was a strong hold of the BJP from the 1994 to the 2008 assembly elections. In 2013, the Congress snatched the constituency away from the BJP by wining in the elections. In 2013, MLA JR Lobo from the Congress party won with a margin of 12,275 votes against BJP’s Yogish Bhat. JR Lobo had secured 67,829 votes and Bhat had bagged 55,554 votes, while CPI(M)’s Vasanth Achari secured 3,016 votes. There were a total of 13 contenders including JD(S), CPI(L), SDPI, KJP and five Independent contenders in the 2013 assembly elections.
As per the 2013 assembly elections, there were 1,98,313 voters, out of which 94,740 were men and 1,03,570 were women. A total of 1,32,315 voters had exercised their votes. This time there is a possibility of over twenty one thousand new voters casting their votes.
N Yogish Bhat, former MLA, speaking to Newskarnataka said, “This time I am not an aspirant for the party’s ticket. I have already contested in six general elections. Moreover, twice, I have contested for the MCC elections. There are several youths in the party who deserve to get a chance. I will continue to work for the party.”
However, claiming to be the right candidate for the vibrant constituency, aspirant Ganesh Rao said, “For the last 30 years I have been involved in social service. I am a disciplined party worker. I have been actively involved in several programmes and worked for the society. If the opportunity is given to me, then I will contest and win the elections. If the party chooses anyone else, then I will wholeheartedly work for the party.”
Meanwhile, one name that is making the rounds is that of D Vedhavyasa Kamath. Already accepted as the candidate from the constituency, party sources say that he has the upper hand this time.
Speaking to Newskarnataka Kamath said, “I am bound by the party’s decision. If the party wishes, then I will contest the election. Ultimately the party’s decision is supreme”.
Not surprising, but rest of the aspirants too have the same opinion that given a chance, they would like to contest but otherwise, there would be no rebellious factor.
Over the years, the BJP has remained sorted out as far as rebel factors are concerned and even in this election, the BJP house stays calm in the Mangalore South constituency. However, the rebels have always been a major cause of concern for the Congress party and one may have to wait and watch if trouble is in the making after sources say that sitting MLA J R Lobo will once again be given the ticket for the upcoming polls.
