Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Jan 22: If reliable sources are to be believed, MP D V Sadanand Gowda may be fielded from Udupi Loksabha constituency this time, instead of Mangalore.  It is learnt that the Hindu organizations specifically Rashtreeya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has been pressurizing the BJP for accepting for this proposal. The prominent name that is has been making rounds for the Mangalore Loksabha candidature is that of S R Rangamurthy, Campco president.

It is learnt that a meeting was convened relating to the selection of Loksabha candidates from Mangalore and Udupi constituencies at Puttur on the night of Wednesday January 21. RSS leader Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat, BJP state general secretary Santosh and senior district-level BJP leaders are learnt to have discussed the issue threadbare at the meeting.

The RSS, it is believed, is wary of fielding a new candidate after having the bitter experience of fielding I M Jayaram Shetty and Manorama Madhwaraj, relatively newcomers to the party, from Udupi constituency, as both of them have since deserted the party. The RSS is pestering the BJP to introduce a fresh face from Mangalore this time. Dhananjay Kumar, four-time MP from Mangalore does not seem to be having support from any quarters. Even though some other names too cropped up at the meeting, Rangamurthy appears to be having a thorough edge over the others.

Sadanand Gowda is said to have agreed to accept any decision that the party might take about his candidature. The picture will be clear by the end of this week, as the party leadership has said that the list of Loksabha candidates from the state would be released by January 27.