Harshini Brahmavar
Daijiworld Media Network - Byndoor (MS/DC)
Byndoor, May 10: Byndoor legislative constituency has been a stronghold of the Congress right from the beginning. For this year's assembly elections, K Gopal Poojary, sitting MLA is the Congress candidate again and BJP has fielded B M Sukumar Shetty.
Political history
The list of aspirants for BJP ticket in the constituency of Udupi was too long. The position of K Jayaprakash Hegde was in the doldrums. Sukumar Shetty contested in the last assembly elections also and suffered defeat against Gopal Poojary. The victorious candidate secured 82,277 votes while the defeated one got only 51,128 votes. This time around Jayaprakash Hegde did lots of canvassing in Kundapur constituency before the list of candidates was made final by the BJP. Ultimately Sukumar Shetty was given the ticket, and for past many days, he has been campaigning vigorously.
The total number of voters in the Byndoor constituency is 2,22,427. Out of this 1,08,154 are males and 1,14,259 are females. Byndoor assembly constituency was bifurcated from Kundapur in 1957. Congress has won 10 times, BJP twice, Janata party once and Praja Socialist party once in the last 14 elections that have taken place in this constituency.
Edthare Manjaiah Shetty was the first MLA of Byndoor. In 1967 Halsanadu Subba Rao, in 1972 A G Kodgi, in 1983 Appanna Hegde, in 1985 G S Achar, in 1994 I M Jayaram Shetty, in 1999 K Gopal Poojary, in 2008 K Lakshmi Narayan and again in 2013 K Gopal Poojary have elected as MLAs. This year there are nine candidates in the fray.
B M Sukumar Shetty, BJP Candidate
Sukumar Shetty says, "People recognize me as 'Sukumar Shetty Kollur' for the service which I have rendered. I have the intention of implementing many plans in the coming five years. The sitting MLA of Byndoor has supported contractors who looted crore of rupees in the last 18 years. Our constituency is a rural area which has 64 villages. People of 58 villages are facing acute shortage of water. Earlier, during the term of K Lakshmi Narayan, some development had taken place. I have worked as the administrative trustee of Kollur temple and made the Kollur temple known to the whole of India.
"If I am elected as an MLA, I will quench the thirst of Byndoor people by taking measures to overcome the water shortage. I believe that everyone in the society should be educated. So I will give prime importance to education. I will ensure that each and every village will have road connection. I will ensure the tax money paid by the public is not misused. I will try to construct a hospital in Byndoor and also build a medical college.
"Politics is not for making money. There is ample scope for creating employment in Byndoor. This place is suitable for developing tourism. There is a long beach from Maravanthe to Someshwar. There are picnic spots including the Kollur temple. When the movement of people will increase in the villages around Byndoor this place will turn into a tourist spot. If we put in efforts any development work is possible. A strong will is required to accomplish these works. Now we have to go to Mangaluru airport to fly, which is at a distance of 175 km from here. There was a plan of constructing an airport in Ottinene. I have to accomplish something in my life.
"I am ready to work for the people for 18 hours every day. I am ready for service any time. I am contesting for the second time with the dream of winning the election. This time there is a strong BJP wave in Byndoor. I am confident of winning with the same margin as I lost in 2013," Shetty says.
Gopal Poojary, Congress Candidate
Gopal Poojary says, "I have been the MLA of Byndoor constituency for four terms. I have brought a grant of around Rs 2000 crore in the last five years from the government. Rs 102 crore have been spent on Gangolli, Rs 33 crore on Koderi and Rs 10 crore on Shiroor for development related works. I have improved the roads of Byndoor by bringing in the grant under sunami and tourism. I have changed the complete picture of Gangolli. A permanent seawall is being built at Maravanthe beach, using modern technology, at a cost of Rs 100 crore. There is a demand for the second phase of work at Maravanthe. The proposal is already sent in this regard to the government.
"As many as 490 houses have been built and distributed to families who are dependent on fishing. A proposal for the new port at Madikal is sent to the government, which will cost Rs 107 crore. There was an issue in providing Kerosene to the fishermen. However, we have purchased kerosene under the grant of Rs 66 crore and the same is distributed.
"The making of Byndoor as separate taluk was a long-pending demand. This is accomplished. I have built government bus stand at Edthare after assuming the position of president of KSRTC. In the first phase, 'Guddali Pooja' is done for work costing Rs five crore. Now a depot is being made ready at a cost of Rs seven crore. Government bus arrangement is made keeping in mind the requirements of common public and school children. Volvo buses are started from Mangaluru to Bhatkal, for the benefit of general public.
"No work is pending with regards to PWD roads. work of Marsemi bridge is completed after lots of hard work. A connecting bridge is built for the benefit of 60 families that are living in Kannaru Kudru. Work of building several bridges like Mavodi bridge, Aloor - Herror bridge, Alive Kodi bridge at a cost of Rs 18 crore, Savda bridge at Shankaranarayan, Kabbinale bridge (Naxalite belt at Kodladi is in progress. Lots of developmental work is done under the CRF grant.
"The proposal for a fire service station for Byndoor is approved and the grant is released. This will be implemented as soon as possible. The work of upgrading of BO office, Mescom building and government hospital is completed. The work of building additional divisional Mescom office at a cost of Rs nine crore is already begun. Electricity connection is done for Naxalite affected areas with the help of wildlife department. I have built several houses for poor and also have issued RTC under 94C.
Special package
Mujur-Jadkal road on the naxal affected region and other roads in the village have been developed. Kabbinale-Devara Balu region residents are looking forward for special grants and already a proposal has been sent to add Devara Balu village to Udupi district.
The residents can avail facilities post gadget notification.
KSRTC which was under loss has now profit up to Rs 30 crore. It is considered as second best transport service in the world.
Save and rejuvenate the waters bodies such as lakes and rivers, bore wells for farmers, implementation of multi-village drinking water project are my top priorities. Also supplying water from Varahi to Amparu, Kenchanur and Tallur villages is also my priority.
JD(S) Candidate Ravi Shetty
"Before entering into the political arena, I served in various associations and solved issues pertaining to my region. We have support from the women and youth. Today voters, who are fed up with the bitter rivalry of two political parties, are looking for a change and I am hopeful that they will choose new leaders in the assembly polls," says Ravi Shetty.
"Drinking water to the people of Byndoor is my top priority. Though there are five rivers in Byndoor, drinking water is still an issue. We have also pressurized the government to release grants for Hosabalve Bridge and Navunda Kudru. The present government aims to create smoke-free villages but even today several families live using chimneys. Before implementing any project, the government must know the reality. I have been visiting the constituency for the last 6 months and unfortunately, some villages do not have bus stands and toilets even today.
"Even if I win or lose, I will work for the people of Byndoor. If the voters give JD(S) a chance, I will fulfill their demands and make Byndoor a model constituency,," he says.
Forecast
There are chances of Bunts vote getting divided since Sukumar Shetty from the BJP and Ravi Shetty from the JD(S) are contesting this time. Even Mogaveeras, Kharvi and minority communities’ voters play a crucial role. Gopal Poojary from the Congress is said to be voters' first choice since he is contesting for the 7th time. Though Byndoor is developing there are several villages which do not have basic amenities. The voters are looking for a change and Byndoor is considered as backward constituencies in the Udupi district.
Gopal Poojary is seeking a vote in the name of development done by the state government and his constituency while BJP's Sukumar Shetty is using Hindutva, Modi wave, and present MLA's 'failure' to seek votes with new promises.
It will be interesting to see whether voters will choose Modi, give another chance for Congress or vote for JD(S) for a change.
Suresh Kallagara (CPI), Abdul Hajeed (MEP), H Suresh Poojary(Independent), Manjunath K (Independent) and Subramanya N (Independent) are also in the fray.
On the Election Trail: