Daijiworld Media Network
Udupi / Bangalore Feb 21: The Udupi-Chikmagalur bypoll fever has started to heat up as two prominent parties Congress and BJP announced their candidates officially on Tuesday February 21.
The constituency vacated due to Sadananda Gowda's resignation after being elevated to the post of chief minister of Karnataka is going to poll on March 18.
Jayaprakash Hegde, who lost the election against D V Sadananda Gowda in 2009 by 27,000-plus margin has been once again given the chance by the Congress high command. Other two aspirants Vinay Kumar Sorake and Chikmagalur-based B L Shankar seem to be disappointed with this move.
Similarly, Sunil Kumar, who lost the 2008 Karkala assembly poll against Congress' Gopal Bhandary was officially announced as BJP candidate by K S Eshwarappa in Bangalore on Tuesday.
JD(S) is also set to field a candidate for the seat. Former Karnataka CM Kumaraswamy, speaking to Daijiworld in Bangalore said that JD(S) is taking this bypoll seriously, and will encash every opportunity to win the election.
"Our party workers are very much favouring Madhu Bangarappa to be JD(S) candidate. There are other aspirants also, we will finalise the name latest by Thursday," he said.
Madhu Bangarappa, son of former CM of Karnataka the late Sarekoppa Bangarappa, represents Billawa community. The JD(S) star campaigner could spoil some votes from Sunil Kumar, who also hails from the same community. But some other political experts say that Madhu might spoil Congress votes rather than those of BJP on 'secular' grounds.
Karnataka elections is usually fought on the basis of caste. J P Hegde represents the Bunts community.
Daijiworld has learnt that many Congress party workers were reportedly demanding Priayanka Gandhi's candidature to contest the bypoll from Udupi - Chikmagalur.