Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (JD/DV)
Udupi, Apr 5: The decision of Kundapura’s five-term MLA Haladi Srinivas Shetty not to contest the upcoming elections has certainly changed the selection criteria of the BJP when it comes to putting up candidates for constituencies in Udupi district.
Earlier, the party had reserved the constituency ticket to those belonging to the Bunt community, but Haladi Srinivas Shetty has quit the electoral fray with a rider that his close aide should be given the ticket to contest from Kundapura. This decision has impacted the selection of party candidates for all the other constituencies as well.
According to informed sources, Haladi took this decision based on the condition that his close aide Kiran Kumar Kodgi be given the party ticket for Kundapura. It is likely that the BJP is not in a position to overrule Shetty’s condition as he enjoys considerable clout within the party in deciding the party’s nominee for the constituency.
If Kiran Kumar Kodgi, who belongs to the Brahmin community, is given the party ticket to contest from Kundapura constituency, there are chances that Raghupathi Bhat may forfeit his chance to contest from Udupi constituency as it seems unlikely that the BJP will field two candidates from the Brahmin community in the district.
In Udupi, if the BJP announces a Brahmin as a candidate for the party, the party may have to face opposition from people of other castes and communities.
On the other hand, Udupi constituency will have a Mogaveera candidate as Congress is also willing to opt for a candidate from the community. Yashpal Suvarna and Pramod Madhwaraj are also frontrunners in the race to get party tickets to contest from Udupi. But as Pramodh Madhwaraj has recently joined the party, the BJP party workers at the grassroots are not willing to support Pramod Madhwaraj’s candidature and so is it within the party.
If BJP fields Pramod Madhwaraj from Udupi, Lalaji Mendon may not get the ticket to fight the elections from Kaup constituency.
Meanwhile, Yashpal Suvarna who is also In the race to get the party candidate for the Udupi seat, was trying for Kaup as he enjoys considerable support from the Mogaveera leaders and the community. Suvarna’s first preference is with Kaup.
Now all eyes are on the candidates who are likely to be fielded for Kaup and Udupi constituencies. As there are enough aspirants from the BJP in both the constituencies, it is likely that the party leaders may field a new face in both the constituencies while retaining the sitting members in the remaining seats.
The first list of BJP candidates is expected to be out on April 8. Sources indicate that only one candidate’s name is likely to be announced for the seats in Udupi district. The party is likely to maintain suspense and secrecy till the last date of nomination for both the BJP and Congress ticket aspirants.