Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (JD/YA)

Udupi, June 5:  Following the conclusion of the Lok Sabha elections, Udupi is poised to receive a new in-charge minister. The current minister, Lakshmi Hebbalkar, is expected to be replaced due to her perceived lack of performance and engagement with the district.

The current in-charge minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar has lacked interest over the district and its activities and her son Mrunal Hebbalkar who contested from Belagavi has also lost. Lakshmi Hebbalkar was very much concentrated on her son’s seat and completely neglected the Udupi district and its issues.

In Udupi, members and supporters of Congress are outraged by district in-charge minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar’s actions during the election campaign days and its aftermath.  When she was elected as the minister, there was no doubt that enthusiasm had aroused among the Congress workers in the district. But, when she failed to attend a single meeting and campaign for Lok Sabha election, as her son was the Congress candidate from Belagavi constituency, the party workers were really upset and had many questions against her.

The workers were further upset when she did not show up during the MLC election for southwest graduate and teachers constituency, once again not coming to support the candidate. Least interested in the welfare of the district, betterment of the people and solving their problems, party workers feel that she has failed as the district in-charge minister.

This time Belagavi constituency went to BJP. Jagadish Shettar won the MP election against Lakshmi Hebbalkar’s  son Mrunal R Hebbalkar, with a margin of 1,78,437 votes. This has further angered the Udupi Congress workers. They are now of the opinion that we do not need such a minister who is more inclined to her selfish gains and does not wish for the welfare of the party.

During the election KPCC president D K Shivakumar has issued a strict warning to all the ministers to bring victory for Congress party candidates in their respective seats and if failed, to be ready to lose the ministerial posts. DKS had also warned those ministers whose children were given Lok Sabha tickets. Lakshmi now has a double negative effect as her son lost to BJP’s Jagadish Shettar.  In total, ten ministers had nominated their family members. Five of them won while five have lost. This has paved the way for disdainful comments about performance.

Discontent is growing among Udupi’s Congress workers, who are reportedly planning a "Go Back to Belagavi" campaign against Hebbalkar. This movement is gaining traction and could evolve into a significant protest.

While NDA allies BJP and JD(S) won 19 seats, Congress won only 9. Though there is an increase in the number when compared to the 2019 election, where Congress won just 1 seat, the party is not happy with its performance. Now the big question mark is whether Congress will follow what it said or not?

Sources say that a situation is being created among the resentful party workers at Udupi, where they are boycotting Lakshmi Hebbalkar for her adjustment politics, and are will start a campaign “go-back to Belagavi”. There are possibilities that it may grow into a very big movement.

With a new set of representatives to be elected for both Vidhana Parishat and Vidhana Sabha in a few constituencies the Congress high command has already made up its mind for a suitable candidate to be given responsibility as in-charge minister for Udupi who is strategically connected to Udupi district and is well known with the district.