Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (MS)

Udupi, Oct 22: The BJP is making all preparations to win in all the constituencies of the district in the 2023 assembly elections. The five constituencies in the district are very different with regards to various matters.

Kaup legislative constituency is a hotly contested one not only due to its population but also development. This constituency was the fortress of Congress. In 2018, history was written for the first time and BJP won the seat. 

Yashpal Suvarna

 
Kuilady Suresh Naik

 
Lalaji R Mendon

 
Geethanjali Suvarna

 
Gurme Suresh Shetty

 
Shilpa Suvarna

Lalaji Mendon was the man who laid the foundation of BJP in Kaup. He organized party workers from grass root level and won the last elections. The Modi factor also played a role in his victory.

The curious part is that it is doubtful whether Lalaji will get the ticket for the 2023 election. The reason for this is that many prominent BJP leaders of the district are eyeing this seat. Last time there were four to five aspirants in BJP for this seat. This time the numbers are more. Caste politics also prevails strongly in this constituency. Bunts community numbers are slightly higher. But the votes of Mogaveera and Billavas are also crucial. Muslim community is also present to a fair extent.

This constituency which was the fortress of Congress before 2018 was wrested by BJP. Even then, the former Congress MLA has not given up touch with people. Though Congress is not present in any of the five constituencies, Vinay Kumar Sorake is still an active politician and a strong opponent for Lalaji Mendon. In the 2018 elections, Lalaji Mendon won by 11917 votes against Vinay.

If one looks at the history of Kaup constituency late Vasantha V Salian had a stronghold. He won consecutive five times from 1983 to 1999. However, Lalaji Mendon who got defeated against Vasanth with a very low margin in 1994 and 1999, defeated Salian in 2004 by just 1000 votes. In 2008 also Lalaji defeated Vasantha V Salian. However, Salian’s grip on the constituency was still strong.

In 2013, Congress gave the ticket to Vinay Kumar Sorake. He won the elections by 1500 votes.

Another interesting point is that BJP is working as a 'double engine' in centre and state. So the influence will be there on the legislative constituencies. There is a chance that a new candidate will be given a ticket by the BJP who can win in the name of PM Modi.

There are many aspirants in BJP for the ticket of 2023. Kuyiladi Suresh Nayak is the current BJP president. He has very good rapport with the party workers. Though he is from Hiriadka, he knows the Kaup constituency very well. He has been a RSS volunteer since 1986 and working as a BJP worker since 1989. He was the BJP mandala chief secretary in 1996, BJP yuva morcha president in 2005, Udupi district chief secretary in 2008 and vice president in 2010. He was president of APMC in 2011. He became Kaup Mandala BJP president and then Udupi district chief secretary.

Suresh Shetty Gurme is a renowned entrepreneur and member of state executive of BJP. He deserted Congress and joined BJP in 2015. He was a strong contender for Congress ticket from Kaup in 2013. However, he was sidelined. So he joined the BJP in 2015. He was vice president of BJP and has done a good job. He has many followers.

The name that is currently heard prominently in BJP circles for Kaup constituency is that of Yashpal Suvarna. He is projected as the youth leader of Mogaveera community. He has been active in the Kaup area for the past six to seven years. He won thrice for city municipality from Ajjarkad ward. At present he is state convener of fisheries federation and secretary of BJP yuva morcha. He is the president of Dakshina Kannada fish marketing federation and trustee of NMPT. In addition, Suvarna is the director of Udupi district cooperative union and Mahalaxmi cooperative society. In 2018 his name was in the final list of candidates. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections he supported Amit Shah and worked hard. He is working as convener of Bajrang Dal for the past 25 years and is working in a responsible position in the party.

Yashpal Suvarna rose from a family that did not have any political background. He was a common worker of the party. He took leadership in religious, social and cooperative sectors. He was also successful in handling the hijab issue which made news at international level. All these points make him a strong contender for the party ticket for 2023 assembly elections.

Geetanjali Suvarna, though a new face from the BJP, is faithful to the party after she joined. She grew step by step and is a member of the state executive now. She was the vice president of district BJP. She was member of Udupi zilla panchayat twice from Padubidri and Kurkalu constituencies. She is very much involved in religious and social service. Geetanjali has good rapport with state and national leaders of BJP. Her name stands first in the list of aspirants among women.

Shilpa G Suvarna, daughter of former Congress MLA late Vasantah V Salian is also in the fray. She won from Ellur and became a zilla panchayat member. She is the current vice president of BJP also.

It is not that there is no one who can pose a challenge to current BJP MLA Lalaji in Kaup constituency. However, the possibility is high that a person who has played an important role in organizing the party will be given the ticket. Opinion of party workers also matters a lot. Lalaji may get the ticket again if the party thinks to keep clear of any kind of chaos, bitterness, caste and community equations. In the game of politics anything is possible.