Daijiworld Media Network – Puttur (SP)

Puttur, May 9: Out of 13 constituencies which went to polls this time from the twin-districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, women had entered the election fray in only five. Among them, Shakuntala Shetty has emerged as the lone winner.

Women candidates had been fielded in Puttur, Byndoor, Beltangady, Sullia, and Karkala constituencies this time. Apart from Shakuntala Shetty, Surayya Banu of the JD(S) was fielded in Byndoor constituency, Rajashree Hegde of the JD(S) had filed nomination from Beltangady constituency, while KJP candidate, Chandravati, fought the election from Sullia constituency. Padmavati, an independent candidate, had also tried her luck from Karkala constituency. However, Shakuntala Shetty was the only one to get the nod of the voters.

Surayya Banu was placed seventh in Byndoor (1023 votes), and Rajashree Hegde had to be content with the fourth spot in Beltangady (2,682). Chandravati, with 1001 votes, secured sixth spot in Sullia, with Padmavati getting 478 votes and placed seventh in Karkala.

The fact that only a handful of women candidates have entered the legislative assembly this time, Shakuntala Shetty has the experience of having worked as a legislator once in the past, and the strategic location from where she has won, may all be the points which may work in her favour at the time of considering candidates for the formation of the new ministry, her supporters say.