Mangalore: DVS, Nalin Kateel likely to contest Assembly polls

Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Mangalore, Mar 25: All major political parties in the state are busy finalising their candidates for May 5 Karnataka state Assembly polls. In the twin districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, though BJP is keen on fielding sitting MLAs seeking their re-election, the names of former CM D V Sadananda Gowda and MP Nalin Kumar Kateel have been heard doing the rounds.

Sources close to Sadananda Gowda confirmed to daijiworld that the former CM is not too interested in contesting the state assembly polls, but on the behest of senior BJP leaders in the state he has been convinced to contest from Puttur constituency. Dr Mallika Prasad is the sitting BJP MLA from this constituency. At the same time, the entry of Shakuntala Shetty in Congress party has strengthened the prospects of 'Shaku Akka'.

In the 2008 election Bondala Jagannath Shetty (who died in a road accident last year) lost to Mallika Prasad with a small margin of less than 1,500 votes. Considering this situation, and after the disastrous result of local body polls, BJP 'high command' is more interested in fielding DVS from Puttur.

Nalin Kumar Kateel, MP from Mangalore has expressed his willingness to be active in state politics by contesting election from Moodubidri constituency. Currently there are only two strong prospects from Moodubidri - Tulu Sahitya Academy president Umanath Kotian, and  Abhayachandra Jain, one of Congress stalwarts from the region and a powerful Jain community leader from Moodbidri constiruency, who has been winning the assembly seat for the last four elections. If Umanath Kotian is the choice for BJP, then it might be a cakewalk for Jain, but if it is Nalin, Moodbidri could be one of the most interesting constituencies in the state.

Even in Mangalore, instead of sitting MLA and deputy speaker of Karnataka assembly Yogish Bhat, BJP may field RSS hardliner, young candidate Srikar Prabhu. Though both Prabhu and Bhat's names have been sent to the high command, it won't be surprise if at the last minute if Prabhu's name is finalized. Daijiworld has learnt that Yogish Bhat would reportedly be the candidate for the parliamentary election which is due in 2014.