Daijiworld media Network – Udupi (JD)
Udupi, Nov 26: Udupi legislative assembly constituency has become a hotbed for Congress after the exit of former minister Pramod Madhwaraj. Aspirants have already begun work to gain tickets for the upcoming assembly elections and some have even started the preparations like organising booth meetings etc.
As many as 7 persons have applied for Congress ticket from Udupi constituency.
From L to R: Ramesh Kanchan, Ashok Kumar Kodavoor, Amrith Shenoy, Prasadraj Kanchan, Krishnamurthy Acharya and Prakhyath Shetty
From L to R: Kishan Hegde Kolkebailu, Ashok Poojary Beejadi, Dinesh Hegde Molahalli and Shyamala Kunder
Gopal Poojary Byndoor
Vinay Kumar Sorake and Rajshekar Kotian
From L to R: Manjunath Poojary Hebri, Surendra Shetty, D R Raju and Neere Krishna Shetty
The list includes some existing party office-bearers and some new faces too. Ashok Kumar Kodavoor, present president Udupi district Congress, Ramesh Kanchan, present president Udupi block Congress Prasadraj Kanchan, Krishnamurthy Acharya, Amrith Shenoy, Sahnkar Kunder Kota, present president Kota block Congress and Prakhyath Shetty have filed their applications seeking ticket from Udupi constituency.
According to sources all the aspirants are currently in Bengaluru where interviews have been lined up which may be held on Sunday, November 27 by the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC).
Meanwhile in other constituencies of Udupi district, many Congress leaders have filed their applications. Ashok Poojary Beejadi, Dinesh Hegde Molahalli and Kishan Hegde Kolkebailu and Shyamala Kunder have filed applications seeking ticket from Kundapur constituency. All the four have been in the Congress party for a long time and have held key positions. Shyamala Kunder is the only lady aspirant to file application.
In Karkala constituency, Manjunath Poojary, present President Hebri block Congress Neere Krishna Shetty, vice president Udupi district Congress Surendra Shetty, businessman and D R Raju, President Billava Sangha Karkala have filed their applications. Over that Karkala may witness a surprise candidate chosen directly from the KPCC heads also.
Being a hotbed of BJP, Congress has to choose its candidate very wisely in Karkala.
Gopal Poojary, former MLA is the sole person to file an application from Byndoor constituency. He has been actively involved with the party workers in the constituency even after losing the elections. Gopal Poojary is likely to get the ticket from Byndoor.
Vinay Kumar Sorake, former MLA and Rajashekar Kotian have filed their applications seeking tickets from Kaup constituency.
As the dates for filing applications has closed, KPCC is likely to finalise the candidates shortly. All the aspirants have camped in Bengaluru and are waiting to meet KPCC leaders. There is a need for the Congress party to choose its candidates wisely not just on the basis of money power as the party had lost all the five seats in Udupi district in the last elections.