Mangaluru, Apr 11: The Congress is likely to face a mild dissidence following the announcement of candidates for the eight constituencies in Dakshina Kannada for the May 12 Karnataka assembly polls as there are multiple contenders in six constituencies.
Seven of the eight constituencies in the coastal district are now represented by the Congress legislators. Only Sullia is represented by the BJP legislator, who had defeated Congress candidate by a small margin in 2013 polls.
Two cabinet ministers from the district – U T Khader and B Ramanath Rai – have remained undisputed Congress leaders in their respective constancies – Mangaluru and Bantwal, and are sure to get the party’s B Form. However, there are multiple ticket aspirants in other six constituencies.
The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) has already received applications from over 20 ticket aspirants from Mangaluru City North, Mangaluru City South, Moodbidri, Sullia, Puttur and Belthangady constituencies.
B A Mohiuddin Bava and J R Lobo, the sitting MLAs of Managluru City North and South respectively are hoping to get the B Form again. However Mangaluru City Corporation member M Shashidhar Hegde is reportedly lobbying hard to get ticket from one of these constituencies. Apart from him, former MLA K Vijaykumar Shetty and corporator Purushottam Chitrapur also are ticket aspirants in Bava’s constituency.
Incidentally, District Congress president K Harish Kumar himself has filed an application to contest from Belthangady along with incumbent MLA K Vasanth Bangera; but Mr. Kumar clarified that he has filed the application as a precautionary measure.
In Puttur, incumbent MLA Shakuntala T Shetty has launched poll campaign nearly two months ago. However, two more Congress leaders – Kavu Hemanath Shetty and Divyaprabha Chilladka – are trying to snatch party ticket from her this time.
In Moodbidri, incumbent MLA K Abhayachandra, MLC Ivan D’Souza, former Mangaluru Mayor Kavita Sanil and District Youth Congress president Mithun Rai are prominent contenders.
Dr B Raghu, who faced defeat by BJP MLA S Angara twice, and Madikeri CMC member Nanda Kumar are the contenders from Sullia.
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