22 voters’ favourite MLAs of Karnataka: Will they win again?

Harsha Raj Gatty | coastaldigest.com
April 30, 2018

Want to win polls, ask these tried, tested, trusted candidates of the political parties, who beyond the day to day political dynamics, have remained larger than life figures at their respective constituencies. More than these individuals needing a political backing, it is the parties who end up bee-lining at the doors of these evergreen leaders to add-up to their victory. 

Leadership, personality, legacy of these leaders have giving them an upper hand in the game, that has repeated their victory over and over again. Colloquially, the locals simply put it as the 'Varchas' i.e. domination of the leaders, however during the district visit at the onset of the polls, we tried to summarise what exactly defines these leaders among the 2018 contestants from rest of the aspirants.

1) Kukkeri: MLA Umesh Vishwanath Katti, a JD-S legislator since 1985 so far has contested eight polls altogether and won seven of them. The constituents have remained loyal to this 58-year old leader, despite him being at the habit of party hopping; Janatha Party (1985), Janatha Dal -Secular (1989, 1994, 2008), Janatha Dal - United (1999) and BJP (2013) and upcoming 2018. Katti faced defeat once - when he was candidate from the Congress in 2004 with a margin of 820 votes to the BJP candidate Shashikant Nayika.

What keeps his victory going? No-Nonsense personality, key-player in employment generating Sugar sector in the region, Lingayat support, and voicing local aspiration irrespective of his own party ideologies.

2) Kagwad: Bharamgoud Alagoud Kage is a sitting MLA from Kagwad constituency since 2000. The leader first entered the assembly as a JD-U candidate in 2000 bypoll and in 2004 was fielded by BJP as their candidate and has won subsequent polls. In 2017, Kage honed the media glare after he along with the members of his family allegedly attacked a Congress party worker over a social media post. At the upcoming polls, Kage will be trying for the office of the 5th time with the BJP ticket.

What keeps his victory going? Enjoys local goodwill. Another key player in Sugar industry with deep pockets.

3) Sullia: If anti-incumbency does not act as a spoiler, this will be sixth-straight victory for Sullia constituency MLA S Angara despite reports of poor-infrastructure and lack of development works in the constituency. In 2013 polls, this was the only surviving bastion for the BJP of the eighth constituencies in Dakshina Kannada. Angara clung to his seat with a marginal victory 1,373 votes against Congress candidate Dr B Raghu.

What keeeps his victory going? Besides being a reserved seat SC, other parties have not been able to position a formidable cadre base. BJP backed ideology has made a significant progress in the electoral decision of the constituents.

4) Moodbidri: The former Karnataka Minister for Fisheries, K Abhayachandra Jain is the fifth-term aspirant. With the legacy of never having voted BJP to power, this constituency in Dakshina Kannada has re-elected Jain - where he has been serving for the last 20 years. 

What keeps his victory going? Hailing from the Jain community, the legislator has the backing of the community leaders who are in substantial number in the region. Moreover the constituency has been a Congress inclined.

5) Mangaluru (erstwhile Ullal): While late U T Fareed has served four-times as a MLA (1972, 1978, 1999 and 2004), his son U T Khader, after the father’s demise took over the mantle in 2007. Khader won 2007-bypolls, 2008 and 2013 from the same constituency became first person to become a minister from the constituency.

What keeps his victory going? Khader candidly admits that the legacy of his father social service to the constituents has reposed people's faith on him. Besides Khader is known to be any-time accessible to the locals and is widely considered responsibly for reducing the communal divide in the region.

6) Narasimharaja: Another Congress father to son constituency would be at Narasimharaja constituency, from where the present MLA Tanveer Sait represents since 2002-bypoll. His father Aziz Sait had served the same constituency for over three decades from 1967 to 1999. It was only in 1994, he once lost to E. Maruti Rao Pawar of the BJP. Following the death of his father, junior Sait sought re-election and continued to uphold family's prided position. Opposition in the JD-S, SDPI, have tried to defeat Tanveer in the past, but in vain.

What keeps his victory going? Goodwill of the people towards the Sait family plays a pre-dominant role. Besides the Sait family is credited with a lot of progressive works and reform.

7) Gandhi Nagar: Born in Kushal Nagar, Dinesh Gundu Rao is the second son of a former Chief Minister of Karnataka, R Gundu Rao. Recently he was appointed as the working president of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC). Rao will contest the polls for the fifth time. Since 1999 Rao has consecutively won from Gandhi Nagar.

What keeps his victory going? Late CM Gundu Rao's legacy, largely favoured by the old-time Congressmen and predominant Congress support base in the constituency.

8)Hubballi-Dharwad Central: The former Chief Minister of the BJP led state government, Jagadish Shettar will seek for votes for the sixth-time at Hubballi-Dharwad Central assembly poll. He was the Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly during 2008-2009. He was the Leader of Opposition when S M Krishna was the chief minister. In 2005, he was appointed as the State President of the BJP.

What keeps his victory going? A Lingayat leader with a strong support base and soft-spoken personality are known as his outstanding features.

9) Bantwal: For Congress B Ramanatha Rai has been the face of the party since he contested in 1985. Rai has a formidable base in the region as he goes to poll for the seventh time. In the last couple of years the region has turned into a communally sensitive zone with murder of members of Hindu and Muslim community. He faced defeat only once in 2004 by then BJP candidate B Nagaraj Shetty. In 2013 polls he won with a comfortable margin of over 17,000 votes in spite of the presence of SDPI in the fray.

What keeps his victory going? Has strong hold in maintaining religious solidarity, substantial development in the region and locally well-respected even by opponents.

10) Yadgir: Frequently shifting between his 'Yes and No', keeping Congress in jittery, Dr Malakareddy finally yielded to align with Congress at polls. It is said that he was miffed by the party for not giving him a cabinet berth. The octogenarian not only settled the lobbying for tickets among the Congress candidates but also makes way for his seventh contest - except 1985 and 2004 - Malakareddy has won polls in 1989, 1994, 1999, 2004, 2008 and 2013.

What keeps his victory going? Strong support by Lingayat Reddy community leaders.

11) Shikaripura: Similarly, it will be an eight-stint for BJP’s CM face B S Yeddyurappa from his home base of Shikaripura, wherein the leader has won all the polls since 1983 except 1999 when he was beaten by Congress candidate.

What keeps his victory going? The constituency has a large base of the Lingayat voters and despite various allegations levelled against him, voters in the constituency seems to be unaffected. He has developed a strong booth level cadre base.

12) Shivamogga: K S Eshawarappa, the former Deputy Chief Minister, who became an MLC and Leader of Opposition in Legislative Council after losing 2013 Assembly polls, was elected to the Legislative Assembly four times from Shivamogga constituency in the past. Once again the BJP has fielded him from Shivamogga. The strong man from the Kuruba community, be it KJP or Sangollirayanna brigade, mostly a Brahmin and Lingayat voters region has always taken the centre stage.

What keeps his victory going? Eshwarappa always piggy-backed on Yedyurappa's growing persona. Lingayat leaders in the area have subsequently extended their support to him.

13) Haliyal: This will be the eighth-occasion, when Congress leader R V Deshpande will represent the Haliyal constituency. The leader who first tested water the political depth with Janata Party in 1983, moved to JD-S 1989 and in 1999 he joined Congress. However for former Industries Minister and the incumbent Minister of Education, the polls in the region face criticism for poor development in the region. 

What keeps his victory going? Considered visionary among his peers who pushed for Karnataka’s IT hub way-back in 1997- Congress has always held his opinion in high regards. Moreover born into a Brahmin landlord family at Haliyal, Deshpande also has deep foothold in his constituency.

14) Kundapur: Hailed as the 'Vajpayee' of Udupi', Halady Srinivas Shetty in 2012 was left humiliated after the BJP - summoned him for cabinet swearing in Bengaluru, but at the last minute changed its mind. Dejected, the then three-time MLA of the BJP returned to his constituency and put-in his papers. He contested independently in 2013 polls, along with his supporters he won with the highest margin of 40,611 in the district, while pushing BJP to the third place. At 2018 polls however, Shetty has reconciled with the BJP leadership and will be contesting on the party ticket.

What keeps his victory going? Known for his simplicity, and self discipline Halady is known to strike chord with the rural masses that makes him a local favourite. 

15) Kittur: D B Inamdar has represented Kittur eight times, twice from Janata Party in 1983 and 84, Janata Dal in 1989 and later on behest of Congress. Though the 70-year-old leader has lost in 2003 and 2008 against BJP’s Suresh Marihal - he came back to power in 2013.

What keeps his victory going? Traditional Congress vote bank, developmental work and Lingayat support

16) Magadi: Another father to son constituency. Former JD-S MLA HC Balakrishna like his father H G. Channappa does not mind changing party affiliation. While the former legislator Channappa has been with Congress, Janata Party and BJP - incumbent four-time MLA H C Balakrishna has had a similar stint BJP 1994 and 1999, JD-S legislator from 2004 and in 2018 he joined Congress.

What keeps his victory going? Known to be a reactionary politician, Balakrishna continues to have a firm hold in local mob-politics, he is highly accessible and knows the art of man-management by his leadership skills. Also hailing from Vokkaliga community, which has a strong presence in the constituency also benefits his case. 

17) T Narasipura: Of the seven times contested - PWD minister Dr H C Mahadevappa has won five of the polls despite being native of neighbouring Nanjangud taluk. 

What keeps his victory going? Traditionally a Congress vote-bank. Besides being close confidant of CM Siddaramiah and other senior leadership in the party has strong grass-root level connection with the local cadre. 

18) Afzalpur: Six time legislator from Afzalpur Malikayya Venkayya Guttedar will contest from BJP ticket at 2018 polls. Apparently, he was unhappy with Congress denial of ministerial berth to him. However, since first polls in 1985 - the leader has always chosen the winning side including Congress, Karnataka Congress Party, Janatha Dal Secular and now BJP. 

What keeps his victory going? Local critics attribute to muscle power and deep pockets owing to his flourishing excise business makes him  relevant to the political leaders.

19) Belthangady: The five-time MLAK Vasantha Bangera has had his political aspiration fulfilled with BJP, Congress and JDS. At 2018, he will be contesting for the seventh time.

What keeps his victory going? Though again a party hopper, who has served his stint in BJP, Congress and JD-S – Bangera’s personal charisma with the constituents is setting the undertone with the result, subsequently - the leader is mostly ahead from 15-25 percent ahead of ballots to his nearest competitors.

20, 21, 22) Jarkiholi brothers from Belagavi district -  Satish Jarkiholi (Congress), Ramesh Jarkiholi (Congress) and Balachandra Jarkiholi (BJP) will contest from Yemkanmardi, Gokak and Arabhavi assembly constituencies respectively. While Satish and Ramesh will be contesting for the fifth-time, it will be a fourth stint for Balachandra.

What keeps their victory going? The brothers hail from political dominant family, which wields considerable influence in Belagavi district. 

Interestingly, during the visit to these constituencies, we realised that these places were obsolete from media debate. Facebook or Twitter war did not matter to them or at least did not influence their decision. Wave or politics of religious tags; these hyper-local constituencies showcase a region within the region means nothing. While across other constituencies, Chief Ministerial candidates are seen securing safe-seats, and party presidents fearing losing deposits - some of these candidates have even quit campaigning in their constituency for polls and have announced that they will assist their associates in procuring votes.

Comments

Mdh
 - 
Wednesday, 2 May 2018

We will do everything possible to defeat UT Kader this. Whoever wins least bothered this time in Ullal constituency. we are frustrated and its high time to throw away this chap. he has did nothing to our community and our constituency. whenever we approached him for any work, he has his own justification. now we will justify him that we have chosen bad chap for such a long tenure, You will be jobless from 20188may. MARK MY WORDS UTK !!!

Kannadiga
 - 
Monday, 30 Apr 2018

Almost all are corrupt and waste bodies. God knows how did they win again and again. But this time all should be sent home. 
 

SDPIfan
 - 
Monday, 30 Apr 2018

K Ashraf will defeat U T Khader in Ullal. Abdul Majeed Kodlipete will defeat Tanveer Sait in NR

Yathin
 - 
Monday, 30 Apr 2018

BJP will make sure that Yeddy loses Shikaripur and Yeddy will make sure that Eshwarappa loses Shivamogga. 

Narasimha
 - 
Monday, 30 Apr 2018

At least 50% of these winning horses will lose this time. 

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
Agencies
March 1,2020

Kochi, Mar 1:Adheringto a policy of "zero tolerance" towards clergy who sexually exploit minors, Pope Francis has expelled a Kerala priestconvicted of rape from all priestly duties and rights, according to church officials.

Syro-Malabar Church priest Robin Vadakkumchery is currently serving a jail term for impregnating a 16-year-old girl in Mananthavady diocese.

"Vadakkumchery has been dispensed from the exercise of priestly duties and rights. That means he has been reduced to the state of a layman", a Church official told PTI.

He was suspended from priestly duties soon after the news about his crime was reported in early 2017.

A POCSO court in Thalassery last year had sentenced Vadakkumchery to 20 years of Rigorous Imprisonment and slapped a fine of Rs three lakh on him.

The priest, 50, was the vicar of the local church in Kottiyur in Kannur district and manager at the school where the victim was studying.

He was arrested two years ago while trying to flee to Canada.

The Vatican's action came two years after Pope Francis made it clear that all bishops should adhere to a policy of "zero tolerance" for clergy who sexually exploit children.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
July 13,2020

Bengaluru, July 13: As Bengaluru prepares for a seven-day lockdown from Tuesday following the spike in COVID- 19 cases, opposition parties in Karnataka have urged the government to enforce the measure in the entire state.

JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda and Congress working president Eshwar Khandre have demanded that the entire state be placed under lockdown.

Welcoming the government's decision to implement the lockdown in Bengaluru Urban and Rural, Gowda said, "I urge the government through the media to enforce lockdown in the entire state."

The former Prime Minister in a statement appealed to people of the state and the entire country to wear masks while venturing out, maintain social distancing, clean hands with sanitizer regularly, and to come out only if there is necessary work.

Stating that allegations of misappropriation have been made by several leaders against the government in implementing measures and packages to control spread of the virus and its impact, Gowda said, "whatever it is let's discuss about it in the next legislature session, at present health of the people is important and let's focus on it."

The government should work in this direction, we are all with the government, let's not play with the health of the people, he said, adding that "I appeal that at least from here on work actively."

With a spike in Covid-19 cases, the Karnataka government on Saturday announced complete lockdown in Bengaluru Urban and Rural from July 14 to 22.

The lockdown is from 8 pm on July 14 to 5 am on July 22.

Congress leader Khandre, meanwhile reminded Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa that COVID cases and related fatalities were not only increasing in Bengaluru but also in the border districts of the state.

The situation was getting out of hand in Bidar, Kalaburagi, Yadgir, Raichur, Koppal, Ballari districts, he alleged.

"So implement strict lockdown once again in the state at least for fifteen days."

"Bring the situation under control. I appeal to the government that in this lockdown period at least to correct its past shortcomings and take all measures to face the pandemic efficiently in the future," he tweeted.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa will be chairing video conference with Deputy Commissioners, Zilla Panchayat CEOs and Superintendents of Police of various districts regarding the COVID situation and the rains.

As of July 12 evening, cumulatively 38,843 COVID-19 positive cases have been confirmed in the state, which includes 684 deaths and 15,409 discharges.

Bengaluru Urban district tops the list of positive cases, with a total of 18,387 infections. Of the 2,627 fresh cases reported in the state on Sunday, a whopping 1,525 cases were from Bengaluru Urban alone.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
Agencies
June 15,2020

Bengaluru, Jun 15: Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Monday said those coming to the state from Chennai and Delhi will have to undergo three days of institutional quarantine followed by 11 days of home isolation.

Up till now a seven-day institutional quarantine was prescribed for those returning from Maharashtra, while there was no mandatory institutional quarantine for asymptomatic people returning to Karnataka from other states.

Those returning from states other than Maharashtra were asked to quarantine themselves at home.

"Those coming from Maharashtra are subjected to seven days of institutional quarantine followed by seven days of home quarantine, while those coming from Chennai and Delhi will have to go for three days of institutional quarantine and eleven days of home quarantine," Yediyurappa said.

Speaking to reporters here, he said the decision has been taken following the increase in the number of coronavirus cases from these states.

"It is because of returnees from other states the cases have increased, not because of the local (intra-state) movement, so we have to control people coming from outside, we have to quarantine them and have to tighten measures.

We are making honest efforts in this regard," he added.

Yediyurappa was speaking to reporters after chairing a meeting with top ministers and officials to discuss about the surge in COVID cases in the state.

"There are no plans for any lockdown, and we will request the Prime Minister for more relaxations," the Chief Minister said in response to a question.

Out of total 7,000 cases in the state 4,386 are returnees from Maharashtra and their contacts are 1,340.

Those who returned from abroad comprise 216.

Returnees from other states constitute- Delhi 87, Tamil Nadu 67, Gujarat 62.

Noting that there are indications that the coronavirus infections are expected to increase in the days to come, Yediyurappa assured people that the government will take all precautionary measures required, and appealed to people to cooperate, follow social distancing, and wear masks.

He said it has been decided to observe the coming Thursday as "mask days" by organising a walk across the state and the main event will be held at Vidhana Soudha, the state secretariat.

"Strict measures will be taken against those not wearing masks and not maintaining social distancing here on.

Initially Rs 200 fine will be imposed, this will be throughout the state," he said.

Further stating that the government has made special efforts to control the spread of COVID, he said a special COVID-19 taskforce has been constituted for Bengaluru and surrounding areas, BBMP (city civic body) commissioner and Deputy Commissioners of neighbouring districts have been asked to pay special attention.

As of June 14 evening, cumulatively 7,000 COVID-19 positive cases have been confirmed in the state, which includes 86 deaths and 3,955 discharges.

Out of 2,956 active cases in the state till last evening, 2,940 patients are in isolation at designated hospitals and are stable, while 16 are in ICU.

Yediyurappa said the state's mortality rate is 1.2 per cent while the national average is 2.8 per cent.

The state's recovery rate is 56.6 per cent and the national average is 51 per cent, he said, adding that 93 per cent of the total cases are asymptomatic while the remaining seven per cent are symptomatic.

In Bengaluru, there are 697 cases and out of them 330 are active. The city has reported 36 deaths.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.