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It is Final – the choice is between - Congress nominee Jaya
Prakash Hegde and BJP’s H. Srinivasa Shetty in Kundapur.
‘Brahmmavar – Barkur’ Assembly seat was shaped in the year 1978,
bifurcating few villages from Kundapur and Udupi segments. Ever
since, this constituency provided study material for political
analysts, mainly because of matured voting pattern exercised by
its electorate, in various elections held in the past.
Unfortunately delimitation exercise conducted by the Election
Commission now eliminated the seat, rather stripped off into four
pieces and distributed the segments - out of total 51 Village
panchayats, as many as 23 annexed in Udupi, 22 Villages in
Kundapur, 6 in Kaup and few places in Karkala.
Our readers may be aware, earlier it was Kaup seat the smallest in
size and population, likely to be eliminated, then may be unseen
hands or the prudence or call it pressure - of leaders succeeded
in saving the latter to axe the genuine Brahmmavar from the
political map of Karnataka State. Kundapur, though an existing
name for the seat, its geographical coverage has changed
drastically – out of total 40, it lost some 9 Villages to nearby
Baindoor and got new 22 from Brahmmavar making total of 53
Vaillage Punchayats, on the West Arabian Sea, North Chakra /
Kollur river, South Barkur and River Seeta and East the thinly
populated Western Ghats. Anyhow, now one may have to wait at least
another two decades to do the same exercise once again by the
Election Commission…
To call back past, this seat was well represented by S. Basavaraj
– Congress Party, Dr. B.B.Shetty of BJP, Ananda Kunda Hegde once
again Congress and Jaya Prakash Hegde once as Janatha Dal party
nominee, with wheel symbol, and record two terms as an
Independent. It was a great honor to the electorate to see, first
ever Minister for Fisheries and Ports in Shri Jaya Prakash Hegde
in Late J. H .Patel Ministry, elected by them.
Very interesting point to note over here is, even though Janata
Dal lost power, mostly because of infighting in the State, Hegde
was victorious with a handsome margin. Today, he joined Congress
Party and deservedly nominated as its candidate from Kundapur
Assembly constituency. Herculean task awaiting Hegde to snatch the
prestigious victory, from the hands of all powerful Bharatia
Janata Party nominee, popular, the sitting MLA Halady Srinivasa
Shetty, which will surely make Hegde a Minister in the event of
Congress securing majority. The print and other media already
predicted the contest as a ‘clash of titans in Kundapur’.
In our opinion, at this moment, the fight is evenly balanced and
the margin of victory may be few hundreds…..
The positives and negatives of the two main contenders –
Though the battle lines yet to be drawn, and other Party’s not
announced their candidates, it shows all signs that the fight is
between two equally good leaders of our time.
What is common with both Jaya Prakash Hegde and H.Srinivasa Shetty
are:
Ø
The candidates are locals, Jaya Prakash Hegde is from Korgi
Village and H.S.Shetty hails from Halady both the places are
situated in the assembly, hence no tag of outsider!
Ø
As both belong to powerful Bunts Community caste based votes, if
at there will be shared by two.
Ø
Both have clean image and enormous goodwill of common man as
people’s representatives, both know the pulse of people well, as
Hegde is third time MLA, and H.S Shetty twice.
Ø
Both have die-hard supporters and workers, and contesting on
behalf of two National Party’s, viz All India National Congress
and Bharatia Janata Party.
Ø
Both BJP and Congress Party go to the electorate on Stability and
Development.
Few points that favor Jaya Prakash Hegde are:
v
As many as 22 Villages earlier in the Brahmmavar Constituency now
part of Kundapur where Hegde is already a familiar name.
v
As per analysts, traditional Congress vote bank comprising
minorities – both Muslims and Christians, backward castes,
Scheduled castes and tribes may be relied on.
v
The good work done by him as Minister for Fisheries and Ports not
forgotten by middle class fishing community in the area.
v
Consolidation of secular Janatha Dal votes, most likely continue
to support Hegde, as he once belong to erstwhile Janata parivar
v
The whole hearted support of MLC Pratap Chandra Shetty, twice
Congress MLA and his influence in certain pockets.
v
Pro farmer Budget by the Union Govt., and economically poor
friendly policies.
What favors Halady Srinivasa Shetty are:-
v
BJP a cadre based party having well oiled party machinery – die
hard pro Hindutva organizations such as the RSS, ABVP, Bhajrang
Dal etc. to canvass rigorously for him.
v
Service as MLA past 8 plus years in the out going Assembly is a
big plus point.
v
Sympathy factor in favor of Yediyurappa, as he was betrayed by
Janatha Dal Secular headed by H.D. Deve Gowda and his son and
former Chief Minister H.D.Kumara Swamy.
v
Popular schemes announced by the Finance Minister Yediyurappa in
two State Budgets.
v
Blessings of stalwarts like AG. Kodgi and other top class BJP
leaders.
What may tilt the balance in either’s favor are:–
ü
If Congress enters into some sort of electoral understanding with
Samajavadi Party led by S.Bangarappa then it is a favorable point
to Hegde as other wise SP will steal votes from Congress kitty
only.
ü
Kundapur is having a sizable Communist supporting working class,
if asked to support Hegde, it will benefit, Congress.
ü
To match the clout of expected effective propaganda by BJP in the
form of Narendra Modi, L.K.Advani, Rajnath Singh, Yediyurappa
etc. if Congress organize rally’s by charismatic Congress
President Sonia Gandhi, Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi
and other leaders, then it may benefit Hegde.
ü
The so called, so far un seen wave or swing at the last moment of
electioneering in favor of BJP a vote for a change or chance, to
form the Government on its own in the State, may favor Shetty.
ü
Stability and Development of the State slogan to be seen how both
the National Party’s market in their favor and convert into
votes?
Conclusion:
Considered as one of the most educated constituency in the State,
where the average literacy level is high, the people are multi
lingual, broad minded and secular thinking, now have to choose
between a suave, matured and well educated Lawyer Jaya Prakash
Hegde and Halady Srinivasa Shetty whose affiliation to
a pro Hindu Party though well known but unlike few others, he
never shown hatred to other communities.
Hegde’s influence and his entry into the Congress fold surely have
positive effects in the nearby constituencies such as Udupi,
Karkala and Kaup in particular and the Coastal Districts in
general to brighten the chances of beleaguered Congress now put to
test.
We have to wait and watch till the ballot box opened, to end the
suspense who’ll make their way to Vidhana Saudha?
We at Barkur-on-line wish the best one to get elected to represent
us in the next State Assembly.
On behalf of Barkur-on-line & ICYM Barkur Ex-Members Association,
P.Archibald Furtado,
Muscat – 15th April, 2008. |
